Gratitude for Gratitude

A message from Erin...

I came in from my birthday weekend PTO yesterday to a thank you card on my desk, sharing appreciation for arranging a birthday surprise. I had a similar experience a few months ago when I was greeted by a lovely card of gratitude for bringing dinner to a coworker.

I share this not to highlight the birthday surprise or support for a teammate, but to lean into the idea of gratitude...and gratitude for the gratitude.

I'll admit, I'm terrible about thank you cards. I love the concept, I love receiving them, but I rarely make the time and space to sit down and write them. I'm quite expressive of my appreciation, but there is something about the intention of sitting down, reflecting on the action, and writing something personal and heartfelt to another person that codifies it and makes it a tangible moment of appreciation.

I am currently reading The How of Happiness by Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky, where - through years of collaborative study - she outlines the intentional practices that can support how we feel and express happiness. I'm still early into the book, but one aspect I have found particularly interesting is her 40 Percent Rule of Happiness: that 40% of our happiness depends on the reactions and responses we express to external events that are under our control.

Among the things that fall into this 40%? Gratitude. Intentional practices of gratitude, merely writing down moments of appreciation, can increase our happiness. This act of reflection can make a meaningful and lasting impact for ourselves - so imagine what it can do for others.

In a professional context, the team at Game On has been very focused on the concept of feedback - both as a client request on ways to improve how to give/receive feedback and internally as a company as we continue to grow. I think gratitude is a part of that feedback cycle, and I'm always plotting and planning on how we can do better:

1. Write it down. As we encounter moments of unexpected kindness, generosity, or joy - big and small - document it. Write it down in a calendar to remember. Write it in a thank you note to share. Write it in a weekly newsletter to your awesome subscribers. This moment could be a beautiful addition to a formal feedback for an employee. It could just be something to bring a smile to your face. But document it. Write it down.

2. Hunt the good. Happiness can be largely dependent on "our responses we express to external events that are under our control." As I always remind my kiddos, I can't always control a situation, but I can control my reaction to it. When something challenging or unexpected happens, I work to hunt the good and find a smile in the midst of things going awry. There is always a silver lining to be found. The art is knowing when to share this silver lining with someone going through a challenge...but that may be another blog for another day.

3. Let people see it. And when we hunt the good, we need to share the good. Our attitude and how we show up can profoundly impact those around us. Let people see your joy, gratitude, and celebration.

So I share this in deep appreciation for the notes of appreciation. For the reminder that expressing gratitude can amplify happiness for both the giver and the receiver of those words. And may we all remember the art of the thank you note, take time to hunt the good, and let people see the positive impact they have on us.

Gratitude On!

Erin Watson is the Director of Programs and Content for Game On Nation. Connect with her at [email protected]!