The Gratitude and Grace Connection (Episode 79)
As we enter the holiday season, there’s no better time to remember to strengthen our gratitude muscles and give ourselves (and others) some grace.
The word gratitude comes from the Latin word gratia which means grace, graciousness or gratefulness depending on the context. This episode will help you kick off your month and help you feel good inside. Grab some hot cocoa and listen in.
What You’ll Learn:
- Why November is my favorite month.
- How gratitude and grace are related.
- The science-backed benefits of gratitude.
- 2 ways to feel deep gratitude anytime.
Listen to the episode above or stream it on your favorite podcast app:
If this year isn’t what you’d hoped, there’s still time to turn that around! First – get into gratitude. 👉 Second – Schedule your Discovery Call with me today so we can explore what you really want and how to get it.
The Gratitude and Grace Connection (Transcript)
You are listening to episode 79 of Your Next Phase Podcast. The one that kicks off my favorite month and topic – gratitude.
Hello my friends! So good to be with you again and I want to welcome you into November. It is the first day of the month and we are coming into the holiday season once again.
Now if you’ve been around me for any amount of time, you know that my favorite holiday is Thanksgiving. And here in the U.S., we do it up big at La Casa Di Barbara.
I take the entire week off to prepare – the decorations, the food and most importantly, myself. I have a much better time on the actual day when I’ve taken time to slow down and go within to practice gratitude.
I’ve shared with you that I’m dealing with some difficult things this year and some days it feels particularly hard to get into the gratitude grove.
Over the summer I started to observe small moments that make me grateful and saying out loud in that moment, “thank you”.
When I…
Remember something I forgot – I say thank you.
Find a good parking place – I say thank you.
Wake up in the morning – I say thank you.
Hang with my darling Daisy Mae – I say thank you.
I am amazed at how this little practice makes a big impact on how I feel during my day. I’ve always known the power of having a gratitude practice – I’ve had one for decades. But I never really understood the value of being grateful for the tiniest of things.
What Does Gratitude Really Mean?
The word gratitude comes from the Latin word gratia which means grace, graciousness or gratefulness depending on the context. In some ways, gratitude encompasses all these meanings.
Gratitude is a thankful appreciation for what an individual receives, whether tangible or intangible.
With gratitude, people acknowledge the goodness in their lives. In the process, people usually recognize that the source of that goodness lies at least partially outside themselves.
As a result, being grateful also helps people connect to something larger than themselves as individuals — whether to other people, nature, or a higher power.
The Benefits Of Gratitude
- Scientists studying positive psychology found that a one-time act of thoughtful gratitude produced an immediate 10% increase in happiness and 35% reduction in depressive symptoms.
- Boosts self-confidence
- Improves patience.
- Makes you more optimistic.
Isn’t that great news? You can completely change how you feel and your outlook on life when you make gratitude a regular practice.
How Are Gratitude and Grace Connected?
I love how gratitude and grace are interconnected. I work on this with my clients all the time.
I ask them what it would look like if they gave themselves some grace around whatever issue is creating problems in their work life or at home.
We high-performing successful women rarely give ourselves grace.
We expect ourselves to know everything, do everything and be everything 24/7. Don’t you think we’ve set the bar just a little too high?
And by all means don’t keep all this gratitude to yourself. Tell those in your world why you’re grateful for them – what they do and who they are.
If that’s not something you’re used to, I get it. Not everyone can express themselves in this way.
It goes back to our childhood and what we were taught by our parents and other relatives about showing emotion and appreciation.
Try This Gratitude Exercise
Write a letter. You remember letters, right? No typing on a computer please.
- Get out some stationary, a note card or a plain old piece of paper and write a letter to an important person in your life.
- Thank them for who they are and if they’ve been there for you in some way, what that has meant to you.
I can’t tell you how wonderful it feels when I get a letter or note from a client telling me the effect the work we’ve done together has had on their life. It just fills my heart and that feeling lasts for weeks.
So why not make someone feel that way this month? Write a letter. Don’t edit anything. Just let your thoughts and feelings pour out of you.
Bonus: When you write that letter, YOU will reap the benefits of gratitude, too!
Final Thoughts on Gratitude and Grace
So this month is all about gratitude and grace.
- Write a letter. Heck, write 2 or 3!
- Practice saying ‘thank you’ for all the little things that happen in your day.
- And notice how different you feel when you do.
It’s an instant shot of feel-good and it’s available to you whenever you want.
Next week, I’ve got an amazing interview for you where I talk with my guest about the holidays and how to avoid being stressed and burned out. It’s a good one.
👉 A Reminder: Have Dinner With Me in 2024!
I’ll be hosting intimate dinners in 2024. A small group of high-caliber women will gather for great food and conversation.
We are craving connection and it’s my mission to bring that to you here in the Minneapolis area. So if you want to join me, please send an email to hello@barbarachurchill.com with the subject “Invite me to dinner” and I’ll make sure you’re added to the list.
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Alright my friends. I am feeling so much gratitude for the gift of you in my life.
Always remember that and this: I believe in you.