Staying Appreciative, Even When it’s Hard…
Do you find it hard to be appreciative during this time? Economy, politics, war, climate change, education, poverty – there is a lot of « stuff » in the way. And it is all serious « stuff ». Staying open to see the possibilities is so important to our happiness, health and general well-being. What helps me is to spend time reflecting on what gave me joy during the day, and equally fulfilling is to give others joy. And that is so easy. Be open to those moments when someone helps you, goes out of their way – like the cashier at the grocery store, the receptionist at the Department of Motor Vehicles or the secretary at your child’s school – and show their your appreciation. Ask them what was the best thing that happened today; what excites them most about their job, etc. You may hear something like « no one has ever asked me that question before », be genuine in your interest, listen with your heart and you may just find this one of those joyful moments.
Always remember, the seeds of change are implicit in the questions we ask. Robyn Stratton-Berkessel, an Ai Practitioner and friend, demonstrates the power of questions in this great TedTalk video. Robyn shares how a « simple, intentionally appreciative inquiry can result in a playful state that fosters creativity, openness and togetherness. Grounded in the science of positive psychology, this interactive talk demonstrates how appreciative inquiry opens us up to experience even greater positivity. The result: less fear and strong heartfelt connections and understanding between people, even strangers. »
We invite each of you to join in the high energy and well-being that gratitude, compassion, and generosity brings to each of us. As always, we thank each of you for sharing your stories of success – seeking the high points to learn, adapt, and thrive – your stories always bring such light into our office and to our work.
Lastly, we are scheduling our 2017 event calendar. We seek out new training locations and opportunities – any thoughts, ideas and suggestions from you are always welcome.
As always we appreciate the good work all of you do. May you all have a wonderful week.
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