With 2017 fast drawing to a close it calls for a time of reflection. After more than 12 years of research and 11,000 pieces of data collection Brene Brown Research Professor at University of Houston reports that she has not ever interviewed someone who described themselves as joyful or described their lives as joyous who did not actively practice gratitude. (Brown, 2012)
One might argue that if you live a joyful life you should be grateful. What the research supported was counter intuitive. The act of practicing gratitude actually invited joy into their lives. By implementing a tangible gratitude practice, not just an “attitude of gratitude” but instilling daily rituals where you consciously make time in your day to reflect on the things you are grateful for. Keeping gratitude journal’s, putting pen to paper to focus on the things you are grateful for. Novel practices like adopting the 10-2-4 habit of saying something out loud you are grateful for at specific times each day. Many families have made it a family tradition when sharing their evening meal around the table each family member recalls something they are grateful for that day. It may be as simple as “I am grateful I don’t have homework tonight” or it may be a soulful window on what is going on in our lives when expressing gratitude for good health after receiving news that a dear friend has just received a devastating diagnosis of cancer. These simple practices help us to slow down and focus on all we should be grateful for.
There is a great quote by David Steindl Rast:
“It is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful”
It is amazing to find that this does in fact keep bubbling up and is supported by research.
As we reflect on our client’s accomplishments over the past year in CME we have so much to be grateful for.
“Modelling the Impossible” by introducing our regionally localized Model experience domain to our Middle East Clients. HMC Primary Health Care Corporation awarded HIMSS Level 6 across all 23 Health Centers in the state of Qatar. This gives them the distinction of being the first client in the world to have, Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Care all at Level 6 in one country, Qatar.
These are but a few of our client’ successes so take a moment to reflect and be grateful for our client’s progress in the region.
Why not invite joy into your life by starting a daily gratitude practice?
