Happy Thanksgiving: Practicing Gratitude
Today is Thanksgiving Day in the United States. While the holiday can be fraught with cultural innuendo, one thing most can agree on is it's foundation in celebrating the harvest and blessings of the past year. No matter your feelings on the holiday, and whether you celebrate or not, we all have things to be thankful for.
Gratitude
Gratitude isn’t just a feel-good buzzword — it’s a powerful practice that can significantly impact our mindset and wellbeing. Gratitude is more than just saying “thank you.” It’s about appreciating the goodness in our lives —big or small.
Benefits
Gratitude ....
... boosts mental wellbeing
... supports physical health
... enhances relationships
... boosts our self-esteem
Gratitude Exercise
This is an easy exercise you can do for yourself, with your employees, or with your students / clients.
Start a Gratitude Jar
The gist of the exercise:
Grab a big jar, a pen, and cut up slips of paper.
Write down things you are grateful for on those slips of paper and drop them into your jar.
Whenever you need a boost, dip into your jar and rediscover the joys you’ve experienced so far in life.
Can you do this in context to your business and the horses?
I'll help you get started. Here are a few of mine - feel free to take them or use them as inspiration for your own:
I am grateful that the perfect horses came into my life at just the right time when building my lesson program.
I am thankful for the community I have developed through my business, that helps me evolve and grow.
I am thankful for students / parents who champion my program with others; word of mouth is the best form of referral.
I am grateful to be able to keep my horses at home and live on my farm.
I am fortunate to be able to work a "nontraditional" job, from teaching lessons to coaching fellow equine professionals.
I am thankful for my passionate and growth-minded clients and students.
Want to include others?
Make a little card that says, "Write down things you are grateful for on these slips of paper and drop them into our jar."
Consider including some examples to help get them thinking about what they might write.
Place this card next to the jar, slips of paper, and pen in a high traffic area.
Tell your employees and/or clients about it and invite them to participate.
When you're having a tough day, as we all can, pull a slip of paper out of the jar and read it to help you remember why you do what you do.
Have fun with this exercise and enjoy the benefits of gratitude within your own life.
Whether you're in the United States and celebrating or not, Thank You. Today and every day, I am grateful for you.
Hugs and Happy Riding!
Kristin
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If you have questions, want help with your business operations, or want to learn more about the Equestripreneur Community, don’t hesitate to reach out.
Equestripreneur offers coaching and community for equine business owners like you!
Learn more about author Kristin Bowers.
Blog posts from Equestripreneur are not meant to replace individual professional advice, which will best inform personal circumstances.
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