Feeling Better By Showing More Appreciation At Work (2)

๐—ฆ๐—ผ๐—บ๐—ฒ ๐—ณ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฒ ๐˜€๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐˜๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ฒ ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐—ฑ๐—ผ๐—ฝ๐—ฎ๐—บ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ฒ, ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐˜†๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ฒ?

Having explored the value of showing appreciation in our professional lives, I’m curious to hear about your experiences. Did it bring a new energy to your work interactions?

Today Iโ€™d love to share some insights with you around how gratitude can benefit you in your personal life.

Feeling grateful has been scientifically proven to trigger positive changes in your brain. It boosts the production of serotonin and dopamine โ€“ the neurotransmitters responsible for feelings of happiness and well-being.

At the same time, it lowers cortisol levels, effectively reducing stress.

๐—›๐—ผ๐˜„ ๐˜๐—ผ ๐—˜๐—บ๐—ฏ๐—ฒ๐—ฑ ๐—š๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐˜๐˜‚๐—ฑ๐—ฒ ๐—ถ๐—ป ๐—ฌ๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—ฟ ๐——๐—ฎ๐—ถ๐—น๐˜† ๐—Ÿ๐—ถ๐—ณ๐—ฒ

An easy way to embed gratitude in your life, is to start a gratitude journal. Each day, take a moment to write down three things you’re grateful for. These could be simple joys, friends or loved ones, or the beauty in everyday moments.

Or, integrate gratitude into a daily ritual, like sipping your morning coffee, to reflect on who or what brings positivity into your life.

๐—”๐—ฝ๐—ฝ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฐ๐—ถ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—š๐—ถ๐—ณ๐˜๐˜€ ๐—”๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐—ฌ๐—ผ๐˜‚

Personally, I try to include the often-overlooked miracles in my gratitude practice. Our ability to see the sunrise, hear music, or simply the fact of being alive today are extraordinary gifts. Recognizing these aspects can bring a deeper sense of appreciation and joy to your life.

๐— ๐—ฎ๐—ธ๐—ฒ ๐—ถ๐˜ ๐—ช๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—ธ ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—ฌ๐—ผ๐˜‚

I encourage you to try a two-minute daily practice for the next two weeks, and to avoid negative thoughts or words during those 2 minutes. Research shows this leads to the biggest results. Observe how this small commitment can lead to a noticeable shift in your stress levels and overall happiness.

Good luck! ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿป

Living Longer, Healthier, Happier and More Successful Through Finding Your Purpose – What Does The Research Say?

โ€œA study found a 15% (!) drop in the risk of dying over the next decade for people finding their purpose, regardless of age.โ€

What?!

Raise your hand if you ever subtly rolled your eyes at the mentioning of “finding your purpose ๐Ÿ’ซ”? I get it โ€“ it can sound like part of a motivational YouTube video.

If youโ€™re like me, youโ€™d rather trust data and research than grandiose terms. No crystal-balls magic, just empirically proven benefits. ๐Ÿ’ผ

Well, the research paints a compelling picture: knowing and living your life purpose isn’t just warm and fuzzy; it’s the secret sauce for success.

Here are some of the amazing benefits (sources provided below), accessible for everyone:

๐Ÿ’ช A long-term study found that making a significant step towards finding your purpose caused a 15% drop in the risk of dying over the next decade.

๐ŸŒˆ More happiness, stronger relationships, better sleep, and mental health.

๐Ÿ’ฐ Having a sense of purpose predicts greater income and net worth.

๐Ÿš€ And it’s not just personal โ€“ purpose is a key ingredient to exceptional leadership.

โฌ† For companies, aligning individual and organizational purpose brings a ton of benefits, from a fourfold boost in engagement to a twofold increase in employee retention.

So many advantages, whatโ€™s the catch? Do you need to save the whales to reap the benefits? Win a Nobel Prize? No, not at all.

(Donโ€™t let me stop you though. ๐Ÿ‹)

Also, it’s personal โ€“ you donโ€™t have to share it with anyone. ๐Ÿคซ

And here’s the kicker: purpose works regardless of your worldview, religion, or lack thereof. It’s about the impact you want to make – for yourself and others.

In coaching, we’ve got proven processes to help you discover your purpose. DM me if you’re ready to dive in. ๐ŸŒŸ

Sources:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/changepower/202108/10-powerful-benefits-of-living-with-purpose
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0092656616300836
https://hbr.org/2014/05/from-purpose-to-impact
https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/purpose-not-platitudes-a-personal-challenge-for-top-executives
https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/igniting-individual-purpose-in-times-of-crisis

Feeling Valued And Appreciated At Work – How Gratitude and Appreciation Improves Your Relationships

Did you know 2 out of 3 people don’t always feel appreciated at work?

Feeling valued is a fundamental human need – a lack of it can make you feel demotivated, unseen or taken for granted.

While you canโ€™t control who shows appreciation or gratitude towards you, you can take the initiative and lead by example.

Showing gratitude is as fulfilling as receiving it โ€“ it benefits both parties and strengthens relationships. ๐Ÿ™

As we step into the new year, here’s a challenge for you: express genuine appreciation or gratitude to three colleagues in the next 10 days – whether it’s your manager, direct report, peer, or someone from a different department.

It doesn’t have to be spontaneous; what matters is that it’s genuine and heartfelt.

Need some inspiration? Consider these questions:

โ€ขย ย ย ย ย ย ย Who recently exceeded expectations or went above and beyond their role to support you? How did it make you feel?
โ€ขย ย ย ย ย ย ย Which colleague has a positive character trait that you value? Share why you appreciate that trait and provide an example.
โ€ขย ย ย ย ย ย ย Who made a positive impact on your team or your company’s culture? What was the result?
โ€ขย ย ย ย ย ย ย Who offered valuable advice or insights that helped you progress on a project? How did it contribute to your success?

The more you show appreciation and gratitude, the more youโ€™ll receive in return. ๐Ÿ”

Imagine if everyone reading this takes up the challenge โ€“ we could kick off 2024 with a wave of positive energy and collaboration. Let’s make it happen! ๐ŸŽ‡ ๐Ÿ’ช

Lastly, I wish you an happy, fulfilling and successful 2024!

How I Connected To And Enhanced My Intuition

[Right hand] Hi David โ€“ how are you feeling today?
[Left hand] Pretty good, thanks.
[Right hand] Can you be a bit more specific?
[Left hand] I can. I feelโ€ฆ

This has been my morning ritual for the last few weeksโ€”a dialogue with myself that opens a doorway to understanding better what I am feeling in any particular moment. Now, before you start thinking I’ve gone a bit bonkers, let me share why I’ve embraced this new habit.

For much of my life, I relied heavily on logic and reasoning to make sense of the world, absorbing knowledge and analyzing everything. While certainly having itโ€™s merits, it did not significantly enhancing the quality of my life.

In recent years, I consciously shifted focus to the realm of feelings, aiming to elevate my emotional intelligence. This journey has been enriching, enabling me to cultivate more empathy, forge deeper connections, understand myself and others better, find more meaning and sharpen my intuition.

An essential tool to increasing emotional intelligence is to regularly check in with yourself to see what emotions are present in you in that moment.

Interested? You can find many easy-to-use apps out there to support you, like Mood Meter or Feeling Wheel.

Tomorrow kicks off the fourth chapter of my Co-Active Coaching Training, called Process, where intuition plays an important role. And as connecting more to your emotions improves intuition, Iโ€™ve created this new habit a few weeks ago. Every morning I set my alarm clock to engage in some self-dialogue.

These seemingly small steps into enhancing emotional intelligence can be investments with lifelong returns, in any field, whether itโ€™s relationships, management or business.

Anticipating the next three days with an amazing group of people, I am committed to bringing not only myself but also a touch more intuition to the table.

My Journey To Become A Coach

Ever caught yourself thinking, ‘I know what’s right for you!’ ๐Ÿค“ when someone shares a challenge or problem? Guilty as charged! My inner advice-giver used to kick into warp drive. ๐Ÿš€

Over the past few weeks, I embarked on an exciting journey, completing both the Co-Active Training Institute Fundamentals course and the first leg of the Co-Active Intermediate training. What a month! I’ve connected with amazing people and soaked up invaluable knowledge.

My biggest revelation? Surprisingly (๐Ÿ˜‰), I’m not here to serve as a walking encyclopedia of solutions. Each person is the expert of their own life, and the coach’s role isn’t to play the hero, but to empower and guide our clients.

So, how can a coach make a difference? In countless ways! From boosting self-awareness to unlocking hidden strengths, demolishing self-limiting beliefs, sculpting a personal or professional mission, and uncovering core values, to name a few.

You might wonder, โ€˜Arenโ€™t core values and purpose just for businesses?โ€™. The truth is, it’s for everyone! They grant you a powerful personal choice. To redesign all aspects of your life according to what truly matters to you, instead of being tossed around by lifeโ€™s circumstances. ๐ŸŒช

The Co-Active coaching model adds a dash of magic to these processes. Described as the ‘gold standard’ in coaching, this scientifically backed model creates a powerful connection between coach and client, which can lead to transformational change. In a short time, I’ve witnessed many times how effective this synergy is in helping clients achieve their goals. ๐Ÿ’Ž

As my journey unfolds on LinkedIn, I warmly invite you to hop aboard. If you’re even a bit curious about coaching, send me a message. I would be thrilled to offer you a taste of coaching with a complimentary sample session.

Iโ€™d love to hear from you!