How to have a thriving September
As I write this, you are probably enjoying the last week or two of summer… at least if you’re in the northern hemisphere. Whether you were creating memories with your family, being awed by the beauty of nature, or relaxing on a patio, we all need time to rejuvenate.
September is here, so now it’s time to make the most of that rejuvenation and translate it into how you want to contribute to and serve the world.
While it is so easy to get dragged into wishing for more time off or mourn that you didn’t get enough rejuvenation, resist the temptation. Even if you had little to no time off to rejuvenate or are coming to grips with a recent tragedy in your life, it does not need to define you. Here are four tips that come out of gratitude practices to help you spend more time thriving this September.
Review your summer
Look back at your calendar for July and August. Whether it’s the calendar on the wall, your electronic assistant, or it’s in your head, go back and review your summer and list one thing each week that you’re grateful for. Find the good. I guarantee that your list will include some things that, at the time you treasured, and by now you had totally forgotten them.
Find the good in the bad
If you experienced a loss or tragedy over the summer, try to find the good in the situation. Places to look for good in a tragedy are in the people who supported you, the learning you now possess, and in the times with that person beforehand. This can be difficult, but it is a life-giving exercise.
Forgive any hurts
If you were hurt by someone over the summer, offer forgiveness. You don’t necessarily have to tell the person you forgive them either. The main point is to genuinely forgive them from within yourself. This enables you to move on and will one of the most powerful gifts you give yourself today.
Try out these 3 habits
September is back-to-school time. Whether you’re back to school or not, you know someone going back to school or at the very least you will see neighbourhoods of kids returning to school. It’s like the New Year, so make this resolution for each day for the rest of the month to take on and develop three simple habits. These are the foundation of grateful leadership and will help you have not only a thriving September, but also a spend more time thriving for the rest of your life.
Make a list of 3 things you’re grateful for
Share that list with someone - it could be spouse, partner, friend, child, grandchild or a complete stranger in the line at the grocery store
Tune in to what other people are grateful for
Here’s how you can do all three habits in less than four minutes per day. Team up with someone that you trust and make a commitment to be gratitude buddies for the next 30 days. Then your task is simple - each day make a list of three things you’re grateful for and share them with each other. You can use email, text, social media, or you can even pick up the phone and talk. Be accountable to your buddy and hold them accountable too. It will be fun and my guess is that it will be a life-changing experience for at least one of you.
My deepest desire is that all people know what it is like to spend most of the time thriving. Do it for yourself and pick someone you care for so that as we head into the harvest you set yourself up for an abundant autumn.
Special Announcement [Fall 2018]
Join me on the journey to the launch of my new book this fall. It’s called “Surviving to Thriving: The 10 Laws of Grateful Leadership” This book is the ultimate guide on gratitude and its importance for spending more time thriving and less time surviving. Through reading the book, you’ll deeply understand how to implement gratitude in all aspects of your life.
Sign up below for email updates about the book and get key gratitude nuggets between now and the book launch!
