Uplevel Performance and Resilience with this Timeless Method

In her book, Cultivating Grace, Spiritual Teacher Miranda Macpherson has a potent reminder we can use today to uplevel our appreciation and gratitude:

“If you knew you were seeing your dear friend, partner or parent or career mentor for the very last time in this world, the most real thing you could possibly say is, ‘Thank you for everything, even for our disagreements. It’s been a privilege. I love you.’ 

“Given the degree of unnecessary suffering in our world, which is ultimately due to a lack of love (care, empathy, compassion) it is important to neither hold our heart back nor neglect to give explicit appreciation to others ....”

In other words,  activate this beneficial energy by using your “soft skills” of empathy, care, connection and understanding!

This Works at Work

Although the context, content and intensity of our gratitude and appreciation in our personal lives can be different than in our work places, the powers that appreciation bestows on us remains the same:

• Bonds us to the people around us,
• Grows trust, core to team or group performance,
• Regulates our nervous systems (NS), as we learn to dwell more frequently in this place where we feel relaxed, calm and open.
• Strengthens intuition.

This is how culture change happens: a little at a time. According to UCLA Health:

“Taking a moment to be thankful causes physiological changes in your body that initiate the parasympathetic nervous system — the part of your nervous system that helps you rest and digest. Gratitude and the response it causes help bring down your blood pressure, heart rate and breathing to help with overall relaxation.”  Health benefits of gratitude

When we are in a state of appreciation we are operating in our Parasympathetic Nervous System, instead of our all too frequent workplace Sympathetic Nervous System (Fight or Flight). Our resilience is increased by promoting relaxation, reducing stress, and allowing the body to recover and repair itself. This is crucial for long-term health and the ability to bounce back from challenges. And that helps us move forward on what is important to us - our purpose, mission and goals - personal or business.

Make a “Micro” Investment Today - for a Great ROI

#1 Take 2 minutes and pick a personal or professional mentorship relationship. Especially if you are in leadership, you did not get there alone, solely from your own efforts, did you? As you think of your mentor and the associated circumstance(s), notice how you feel inside. Are there any body responses to these thoughts and images? Any emotional response? What did they do for you that was helpful or kind? Compare how you feel now to how you felt just before the exercise. 

#2 Bonus Level Application - Find something to appreciate about everyone you interact with today, silently or spoken. 

#3 Wire in the power of appreciation. Take a minute or two each day for 21 days to do the practice. Keep noticing how you feel.

It doesn’t have to take much time to make a big difference. 

When you have a moment, I’d love to hear any experiences you had when you tried this gratitude and appreciation exercise.

Please reach out if you are in conflict or a stress cycle at work (or in a personal relationship that is important to you.) I invite you to set up a complimentary session with me to explore your options for transformation.

You can find a time that works for you here:

Complimentary Breakthrough Conversation (50 Minute)

Peace and warm regards,

Catherine