Cultivating gratitude even if you don’t always like your job
When everything is going well and as you hoped for, it’s easy to practice gratitude. But when things aren’t going well, you’re facing challenges, you’re unhappy with current circumstances or you feel stressed and overwhelmed, the last thing you tend to think about it gratitude. However practicing gratitude can help us navigate life from an uplifted view, even when we don't find all areas particularly fulfilling. Embracing gratitude enables us to shift our perspective, find meaning in our contributions, and see beyond the immediate circumstances. In this article, I’ll discuss the power of gratitude at work and how we can maximize its benefits.
Gratitude is more than just saying "thank you." It is an attitude of appreciation and acknowledgement for whatever comes our way including opportunities, challenges, and experiences. Practicing gratitude at work can lead to several benefits.
Practicing gratitude enhances our mental wellbeing and allows us to reclaim power over our outlook and perspective. Gratitude reduces feelings of negativity and anxiety. It acts as a buffer against stress and disappointment. It allows us to focus on the aspects we can be thankful for, building resilience and the ability to bounce back from setbacks. It allows us to flip our thoughts and feelings of complaining and dissatisfaction to one of contentment and appreciation.
Gratitude helps us grow even when we don’t love the situation we’re in. As an example, let’s say you don’t enjoy your current job. You can practice gratitude by being thankful for a paycheque, appreciation that you are learning to set boundaries with colleagues or content that you are adding a new experience to your resume. Instead of focusing on what you dislike about your job, view it as an opportunity for personal growth. What skills are you developing? How might this experience serve you in the future? Shifting your perspective can open new doors and pave the way for a more fulfilling career path.
Gratitude journaling is a great way to be present and bring to the forefront things to be grateful for that you may have taken for granted previously. I often suggest to clients who feel unfulfilled in their current work to take one minute each day to jot down three things you're grateful for at work. I know it may be difficult at first to be this specific, but if you give it a try you’ll notice it works. This exercise gently trains your mind to seek the positive aspects, no matter how small they may seem. You might express gratitude for a productive meeting, or that the elevator came quickly or that you get a cell phone included with your benefits. Whatever it is, over time, you'll notice a shift in your attitude towards your role.
Another way of thinking about gratitude is to seek meaning beyond the tasks. Perhaps your role is repetitive or mundane but it contributes to the bigger picture and positively impacts others. As an example, let’s say you’re in a role that involves performing routine administrative tasks. On the surface, it may not seem particularly exciting or fulfilling. But if you pause and reflect on the impact of your work, you'll likely discover that those seemingly small tasks are vital cogs in the wheel that keeps the organization running smoothly. So instead, with gratitude you can find purpose in the little things that collectively contribute to the greater whole knowing that every task and role matters in the grand scheme of things.
Gratitude is a powerful tool that can empower us to thrive in our roles, even when they don't align with our passions. By embracing gratitude, seeking meaning, and focusing on growth opportunities, we can cultivate a positive outlook that transforms our work experience. It's not always about finding the perfect job, sometimes that job is there to help us build resilience and shift our mindset. Give gratitude a try this week and see if it shifts your mindset!
