May 25, 2025 • 28 mins
In this powerful episode, we explore how gratitude is not just an emotion but a transformative mindset that can elevate every area of your life. Whether you’re navigating moments of joy or struggling through hardship, gratitude offers a powerful reframe—a way to rise above challenges with intention and resilience. Today, we’ll unpack how practicing gratitude regularly not only boosts your mental and emotional health but also unlocks stronger relationships, deeper learning, and greater life satisfaction. Get ready to explore the life-changing effects of gratitude and learn practical strategies you can start using today to create a more fulfilling tomorrow.1️⃣ Introduction & PurposeGratitude is more than just saying "thank you." This episode is designed to explore why cultivating gratitude intentionally can shift the way we experience everyday life. Our purpose is to highlight how gratitude acts as an internal compass, guiding us toward positivity, balance, and connection—even in uncertain times. Whether you're a leader, learner, or someone seeking personal growth, understanding and implementing gratitude as a practice can anchor you and ignite greater joy. We'll unpack this idea from both a personal and professional lens to give you the insight and tools needed to make gratitude a core part of your journey.2️⃣ Why This Topic MattersIn a world filled with distractions, constant notifications, and rapid change, it's easy to lose sight of what’s going well. Gratitude brings us back to center. It’s scientifically linked to increased happiness, reduced stress, better sleep, and improved relationships. This isn’t fluff—it’s a proven, actionable practice that reshapes how we think and feel. Gratitude matters because it allows us to see abundance instead of scarcity, connection instead of isolation. When we acknowledge the good in our lives—no matter how small—we begin to shift our mindset from one of lack to one of empowerment and appreciation.3️⃣ Current Landscape/TrendsIn today’s culture, especially post-pandemic, gratitude is gaining ground—not just as a feel-good trend, but as a critical wellness strategy. More schools, businesses, and communities are integrating gratitude into daily routines, from gratitude journals to team shout-outs. Social media has even amplified this with trends like #ThankfulThursdays and digital gratitude challenges. Apps now remind us to pause and reflect, encouraging moments of mindfulness and appreciation. What’s clear is that the modern world is finally waking up to the tangible power of gratitude—and people everywhere are discovering how transformational it can be when consistently practiced.4️⃣ Common ChallengesDespite its benefits, many people struggle to consistently practice gratitude. One major challenge is the “hustle culture” mentality—where success is measured in productivity rather than presence. This creates a blind spot for appreciation. Others find it hard to feel grateful when they’re dealing with anxiety, loss, or burnout. There's also a misconception that gratitude is about ignoring the negative or pretending everything is okay. But real gratitude coexists with hardship. It’s not about denying problems—it’s about recognizing the good that still exists alongside them. Overcoming these misconceptions is essential to fully embrace the richness of gratitude.5️⃣ Opportunities for Growth/ImprovementThe beauty of gratitude is that it’s accessible to everyone—and it’s a skill that strengthens with use. Start by creating micro-moments: a morning reflection, a gratitude jar at work, or ending the day by writing three good things that happened. These small changes snowball into a powerful shift in perspective. Leaders can integrate gratitude into team culture through recognition programs or wellness check-ins. Educators can model gratitude in the classroom to foster emotional intelligence. Every individual has an opportunity to grow simply by making space to notice and appreciate the good,
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:19):
Hey guys, good evening, it is John C.
Morley here, serial entrepreneur, and a few guys
like myself are getting ready for the festivities
tomorrow for, yes, for Memorial Day.
I'm not sure if you're going to a
picnic or you're going to a wreath laying
(00:40):
like I'm going to, and then a picnic
later, but it's a great time to just
enjoy the moment.
All right, everyone, well, welcome everyone.
It's the second day on our master topic,
so welcome, welcome, welcome, welcome, and welcome everyone.
So the master topic for the week is
building unity through clarity, communication, and compassion.
(01:04):
The granular topic is disputes were resolved through
group discussion and consensus, series four, show 22,
episode number two, and a big welcome to
everyone here.
Be sure after the show or anytime thereafter,
check out believemeachieved.com for more of my
(01:25):
amazing, of course, inspiring creations.
You can do that 24 hours a day,
by the way.
Oh, and if you're hungry or you're thirsty,
I've got my water here.
Head off to the kitchen, get yourself something
delicious.
Maybe it's hot, maybe it's cold, maybe it's
sweet, maybe it's tart, doesn't really matter.
Just go ahead and get that.
It could be healthy or not.
Go get that and come on back to
(01:45):
the show, everyone.
I think that's really a great thing to
do, and we'll get this show kicked off
today.
All right.
So as I said, ladies and gentlemen, I
am John Seymour, a serial entrepreneur.
It's always such a privilege, a pleasure, and
honor to be with all of you here
on Inspirations for Your Life, as well as
any other pieces of content that I produce.
(02:07):
I'm not only a podcast host, but I'm
also a podcast coach, an engineer, and many
other things, marketing specialist, video producer, and really
it is a privilege to be with all
of you here.
So in this powerful episode, I'm going to
explore how something that I believe can, I
think, change us.
(02:30):
Changing us for, I'm going to go back
on to the connection of, basically the connection
of gratitude, because I feel we can never
finish gratitude.
It's not just an emotion, but it's transformative
mindset that can elevate every area of your
life, whether you're navigating moments of joy or
(02:52):
struggling through hardship.
Gratitude offers a powerful reframe, like a reset
button.
It's a way to rise above the challenges
with true intention and strong resilience.
Today or tonight, I'm going to unpack how
practicing gratitude regularly not only boosts your mental
(03:13):
and emotional health, but also unlocks stronger relationships,
deeper learning, and greater life satisfaction.
So get ready, everyone, to explore the life
-changing effects of gratitude and learn practical strategies
you can start using today or tomorrow to
create a more fulfilling life that I know
(03:34):
you definitely want.
So let's get right into point one.
Point one is introduction and purpose.
Gratitude is more than saying thank you.
This episode is designed to explore why cultivating
gratitude intentionally can shift the way we experience
everyday life.
Our purpose is to highlight how gratitude acts
(03:56):
as an internal compass, guiding us toward what
I want to call positivity, guys.
And I think that's something that a lot
of people, you know, they don't really get
it.
But I think it's important to understand this,
okay?
And I call this introduction and purpose is
(04:16):
what I call this, in case you guys
are wondering.
So again, it can shift the way we
experience everyday life.
Our purpose is to highlight how gratitude acts
as an internal compass, like I was saying.
Whether you're a leader, a learner, or someone
seeking some personal growth, understanding, and implementing gratitude
as a practice can anchor you and ignite
(04:38):
much higher levels of joy.
So I'm going to unpack this for you
now and let you know that this idea
is from both a personal and a professional
lens that I'm wearing.
To give you the insight and the tools
needed to make gratitude a core part of
your journey.
You might say to me, John, you know,
I'm too busy for gratitude.
(05:01):
You're too busy to say thank you.
You're too busy to take a moment to
give grace.
That's sad.
Very sad.
Number two, why this topic matters so much.
In a world filled with distractions, constant notifications,
(05:24):
and rapid change, it's easy to lose sight
of what's going well.
Gratitude brings us back to center.
It's scientifically linked to increased happiness, reduced stress,
and better sleep, and improved relationships.
This isn't fluff.
It's a proven actionable practice that reshapes how
(05:46):
we think and feel.
Gratitude matters because it allows us to see
abundance instead of scarcity.
Connection instead of isolation.
When we acknowledge the good in our lives,
no matter how small, we begin to shift
our mindset from one of lack to one
of empowerment and appreciation.
(06:07):
Number three, guys, current landscape trends.
In today's culture, especially post-pandemic, gratitude is
gaining a lot of ground, not just as
a feel-good trend or emotion, but as
a critical wellness strategy.
More schools, more businesses and communities are integrating
gratitude into their daily routines and culture.
(06:29):
From gratitude journals to team shout-outs, social
media has even amplified this with trends like
thankful Thursdays and digital gratitude challenges.
Apps now remind us to pause and reflect
encouraging momentum and giving us those moments of
mindfulness and appreciation.
(06:50):
What's clear is that the modern world is
finally waking up to the tangible power of
gratitude and people everywhere are discovering how transformational
it can be when consistently practiced.
It's not about, you know, coming in for
the short term.
It's the long term.
Number four, guys, common challenges.
(07:12):
Despite its benefits, many people struggle to consistently
practice gratitude.
One major challenge is the hustle culture mentality
where success is measured in productivity rather than
our presence.
Others find it hard to feel grateful when
they're dealing with anxiety, loss or even burnout.
(07:35):
And there's also a misconception that gratitude is
about ignoring the negative or pretending everything is
okay.
But real gratitude coexists with hardship.
It's not about denying problems.
It's about recognizing the good that still exists
alongside them.
I was working today.
(07:56):
I know it's a holiday weekend, but I
was working today because I had to do
some work for a medical facility and they
were closed and we needed quite a bit
of time to do this conversion.
We were basically swinging over an old server
to a new server with Active Directory and
all those things and then setting up security
permissions all over again.
And I had done this before, but it
(08:18):
was a little overwhelming because of the time,
because I wasn't able to do it in
time.
And I prayed and everything just sort of
fell into place.
Not that there were no issues, but everything
just went very smoothly.
And it was such a moment of grace
and gratitude that I can thank our Lord
(08:40):
and God for allowing me to have this
amazing set of days to accomplish this.
And overcoming these misconceptions is essential to fully
embrace the richness of gratitude.
I think a lot of people think gratitude
is something that's just going to get them
something.
So gratitude is not a one-way street,
(09:02):
folks.
You have to do things with gratitude over
and over again.
I think that is probably the most important
thing that I can tell you.
Number five, guys.
Opportunities for growth and improvement.
The beauty of gratitude is that it's accessible
to everyone and it's a skill that strengthens
with use.
(09:22):
Start by creating micro moments.
A morning reflection, a gratitude jar, or at
work, or ending the day by writing three
good things that happen.
Now, these small changes, okay, that's what they
are.
These small changes can snowball into powerful shifts.
In perspective, that is.
Leaders can integrate gratitude into team culture through
(09:45):
recognition programs or wellness check-ins.
Educators can model gratitude in the classroom to
foster emotional intelligence.
Every individual has an opportunity to grow simply
by making space to notice and appreciate the
good.
Turning daily moments into mindful milestones.
(10:06):
Number six, guys.
Key takeaways or lessons.
You know, we've learned a lot here.
Gratitude is not passive.
It's intentional.
It forces us to rewire the brain for
optimism.
It fosters resilience and it makes us more
aware of the richness in our own lives.
(10:27):
It's about seeing, well, what's right even when
everything feels wrong.
Practicing gratitude regularly doesn't just feel good.
It is good for your health, mindset, and
relationships.
From journaling to simply saying the words, that's
right, thank you.
And saying the words thank you as though
(10:48):
you mean it really goes a long way.
With sincerity, I like to say.
The consistent practice of gratitude can dramatically enhance
your life.
The biggest lesson is gratitude is always available,
folks.
Even in tough times, there's always something, however
small, to be thankful for.
I remember starting this project on Friday night
(11:10):
and there were some things we had to
do like, you know, get the assessment of
the previous server and do some backups and
stuff like that.
And I knew it wasn't going to get
done in a couple hours, so I said
we're just gonna let it take as long
as it takes.
And so I did the first step, which
was gathering all the information, making sure everything
(11:31):
was right, and then getting it to a
point where I could basically move to the
next step.
And moving to the next step was not
directly easy.
That's what I want to tell you.
It was not directly easy.
(11:54):
But what I can tell you is that
the process moved.
And when everything turned out great, I was
not only happy, I was so eternally grateful
and praying for thanks.
And you know, as I've grown in different
(12:15):
situations in my life, I just give gratitude
for everything, for the moment, for what I've
learned.
And now the next time I go to
do that, I was pretty smart, but now
I have an even better and faster way
to do it.
And so in the past, I would have
fret and I would have worried.
I'm like, oh my gosh, this and that.
I was just like, okay, I got to
get it done.
(12:36):
Not 100% sure how to do it,
but I'm going to figure it out.
And I did.
Number seven, our call to action.
Let today be a marker, a day that
you start your gratitude journey.
Pause right now and think of three things
you're grateful for.
That's right.
(12:57):
Pause right now.
Write them down.
If you're driving, when you get home, write
them down or put them into your iPhone
or your personal digital assistant and share them
with someone you trust.
Better yet, thank someone out loud.
Build this into your daily day, like brushing
your teeth.
Want to go further?
(13:18):
Start a seven day gratitude challenge or grab
a journal and document your reflections.
If you're leading a team, begin meetings with
a gratitude round.
Tag us online with your gratitude moments, guys.
Gratitude, just hashtag gratitude unlocked.
You know, it's time to stop waiting for
(13:40):
joy and to find you.
Use gratitude to create it.
You know, a wise person once said to
me, John, you know, I can't do anything
until the iron is hot.
And for a long time, I believed that
philosophy that you can't do anything until the
iron is hot.
You have to wait for the opportunity.
(14:02):
But then not too long after, I learned
that there's a way to approach that.
And that is strike to make the iron
hot.
So in our case, it means to be
proactive, right?
Not reactive.
And I think that's a very, very important
(14:22):
thing.
You might have heard the phrase, you know,
you got to wait for your ships to
come in.
Well, no, you don't.
If your ship hasn't come in, you need
to go out and get it.
Whether you swim out, whether you get a
boat out there, but you need to go
out and get your ships, all right?
Number eight, gratitude isn't just an attitude, folks.
(14:45):
It's a way of being.
It's a way of being present in the
moment.
When we slow down enough to enjoy a
cup of coffee, a cup of tea, piece
of chocolate cake, or some fruit, and choose
to see the beauty in our lives, we
unlock a deeper connection to ourselves and others.
(15:06):
See, gratitude doesn't promise to erase your problems
or challenges, but it does promise to give
you strength and perspective to face them.
Look at the challenges I had this weekend.
Didn't erase the challenge that I had, but
it gave me the resolve and the courage
and the strength and the creativity to solve
(15:28):
the problem.
But it does promise, as I said, the
strength and the perspective to face them head
on.
Remember, the happiest people don't have the best
of everything.
They make the best of everything they have.
So, take a breath, everyone.
Look around and start living your life through
the lens of appreciation.
The power to transform your world has been
(15:50):
with you all along.
But you might be saying to me, John,
I don't know how to harness that.
And now, guys, this is the part in
the program that I really love.
And I started doing this a few months
now, and I know a lot of you
tend to like it.
So, what I'm going to do is I'm
(16:12):
going to basically give you some personal stories,
one for each point.
And you're probably wondering why.
Well, the reason is I'm hoping that these
(16:35):
are going to solidify.
These are going to teach you that from
these lessons, okay, you too can rise to
any occasion.
Now, this challenge I had, I could have
worried about it and said, oh, my gosh,
how am I going to get it done?
And there were some points a few weeks
(16:57):
ago and a month ago, how am I
going to do this?
Then I said, you know what, John, don't
worry about it.
When it gets closer, you're going to figure
it out.
And the funny thing is, I didn't figure
it out until I was actually doing it.
That's crazy, I know.
(17:18):
Introduction and purpose.
An awakening.
A marketing executive had achieved all his career
goals by age 35, but something still felt
hollow to him.
Despite his success, he found himself increasingly anxious
and disconnected with the world.
(17:40):
After hearing about gratitude journaling and a leadership
retreat that I was putting on, he reluctantly
gave it a try.
Within weeks, he began to feel more grounded
and connected to not only himself, but everyone
around him.
Gratitude gave him the clarity to see his
accomplishments in a new light and reignited him
(18:02):
and his appreciation for the people and the
purposes in his life.
That one little shift redefined his approach to
work, well-being, and his entire personal life.
It wasn't about gaining more, folks.
It was about seeing more clearly what he
already had done.
(18:23):
Number two, why this topic matters so much.
Leo's mental health reset I want to talk
about.
Leo was a college sophomore, and I'm changing
the name because that's not really his name,
and he was overwhelmed by academic pressure and
social isolation during the pandemic.
Depression, unfortunately, crept in, and he felt like
(18:44):
he was losing himself.
On a counselor's recommendation, he started a gratitude
practice.
That happened to be me.
Even though it felt silly at first, each
day he wrote down three things he was
appreciative for.
No matter how small, slowly his mindset shifted.
He began noticing more good things around him,
even on bad days.
(19:05):
His sleep improved.
His relationship deepened.
Gratitude didn't erase his challenges, but it helped
him navigate them with hope.
For Leo, it was more than a coping
tool.
It became a lifeline.
Number three, the current landscape and trends.
Another person I coached, Chris, Chris's school transformation.
(19:28):
Chris, an elementary school teacher, noticed his students
were becoming more anxious and disengaged.
Instead of doubling down on the curriculum, he
introduced the daily gratitude circle, where kids shared
one thing they were thankful for.
Within weeks, the energy in the classroom changed.
Conflicts decreased, participation increased, and even parents began
(19:49):
noticing shifts at home.
Inspired by the results, the school adopted gratitude
moments school-wide.
Chris didn't just follow a trend.
He helped spark, well, a movement.
Gratitude became more than a buzzword, folks.
It was now woven into the fabric of
learning and all his connections that he had
(20:10):
and those that he would impress upon.
Number four, common challenges.
David had a little bit of resistance, and
again, it wasn't really his name, but David
was a startup founder.
He believed gratitude was too soft for the
fast-paced world of business.
Didn't have time for it.
He valued the hustle and bustle and didn't
have time for hugs either.
(20:31):
He just wanted to make money, but he
quickly burned out and hit very hard.
After electively hitting a leadership retreat that I
ran, he was challenged to express gratitude to
each member of the team.
He struggled especially with employees he criticized, but
once he began, something shifted and communication improved.
(20:57):
One employee even said, that was the first
time I felt seen here.
David realized that gratitude wasn't weakness.
It was wisdom.
His resistance melted into respect for something deeper,
a human personal connection.
I think a lot of people miss that
in the world, and when they don't get
(21:17):
it or something goes wrong, they blame it
on others, and that's the worst thing you
can do.
Number five, opportunities for growth improvement.
Thomas was working on a community project, and
I was helping him.
Thomas is a community organizer, and he wanted
to bring more unity to his neighborhood.
After months of social tension, he launched a
(21:38):
gratitude wall project in a local park where
people wrote messages of thanks to essential workers
and strangers.
The response was overwhelming.
What began as a small idea turned into
a community-wide movement, complete with monthly appreciation
gatherings and volunteer drives.
(22:01):
Thomas saw firsthand that gratitude isn't just personal,
it's social.
It's a spark that can ignite connection and
collective healing.
Number six, guys, the key takeaways or lessons.
Joe's daily practice.
Joe's a retired veteran.
He had faced trauma, grief, and years of
(22:22):
feeling adrift.
He visited me because he was just kind
of burnt out.
I introduced him to gratitude walks where he
would reflect on what he appreciated while walking
through nature.
At first, it felt like going through the
motions, and that's all he wanted to do.
But with consistency, he began to feel lighter.
(22:46):
Joe noticed the sound of the birds, the
smiles of the neighbors, the feeling of the
sun on his face.
Gratitude didn't ease his pain, but it gave
him a lens of grace.
That's a powerful lesson.
Gratitude is most powerful when practiced daily, not
when you feel great, but especially when you
don't.
(23:06):
I like to say this also about prayers.
I don't know if any of you are
religious, but you don't pray when you need
something.
You pray with gratitude every day.
Number seven, my call to action.
This was another person that had come to
(23:27):
me, and I'm not going to use his
real name, but this was Ryan, and he
had a challenge.
Ryan was a graphic designer.
He realized how much he focused on what
was missing in his life.
More clients, more followers, more success, and one
day he challenged himself to post one thing
(23:48):
he was grateful for every day for a
month.
To his surprise, his online engagement soared, but
more importantly, so did his mood.
Friends started sharing their online gratitudes, and a
ripple effect began.
What started as a personal challenge turned into
a community habit.
(24:09):
Nina realized that gratitude isn't just meant, which
was another person he connected with, but I
think Ryan knew deep as well as helping
Nina realize that gratitude wasn't something that you
just feel.
It's meant to be shared, which is why
Ryan shared it with Nina and many other
(24:31):
close friends.
My closing thoughts or inspiring notes is about
Marcus.
Marcus is a single dad.
He's working two jobs, often felt like he
was burning a candle at both ends just
to survive, but one quiet evening, his daughter
handed him a hand-drawn card that said,
(24:53):
and I quote, thank you for always being
there, daddy.
He broke down in tears.
That one moment changed how he saw everything.
Instead of focusing on what he lacked, he
began celebrating the little victories.
Dinner together, laughter after homework, a peaceful morning.
Marcus began ending each day with a gratitude
(25:15):
prayer, and I started this a few years
ago, been very religious for a while, but
I started every day with a prayer.
So, of course, I do the short prayers,
but I've been doing something for quite a
while now.
I basically say 10 sets of the Hail
Marys, basically a rosary every day, and so
(25:39):
I'll say three in the morning when I
get up, three prayers.
Then if I get in the car and
I go somewhere, I'll say three prayers there.
That'll be six.
On the way back, I'll say another three
prayers.
That'll be nine, and I'll say one more
prayer before I get home, and I'm at
10, and then I'll end it with, you
know, glory be the father, etc.
(26:00):
Then I'll do the Our Father.
Then I have three affirmations, and I really
think and feel those every day.
I think when we understand that life isn't
always gonna be easy every moment, but something
(26:23):
Marcus now says, quote, gratitude didn't change my
circumstances.
It changed me.
So, I want to challenge all of you.
What if you started being grateful for something
in your life?
It could be something very small, and I
(26:48):
think that's an important thing that a lot
of people don't really understand, and if you
understand that, then maybe you'll know the gratitude
isn't for trying to get something out of
someone.
It's for really enjoying the moment, for enjoying
(27:11):
people, and I think too many people out
there are all about the material.
Now, there's nothing wrong with the material, but
I think we need to take a moment
to enjoy the humanistic quality.
I remember when it was my dad's birthday.
I didn't send him a card because I
knew I was sending him something special, which
(27:31):
was some mini birthday cakes, small ones, and
some chocolate chip cookies that were homemade from
a local place, and the phrase I put
on the card really touched him, which I
think was something important.
I think it was something to the effect,
you know, Dad, I know I don't always
say thank you or I love you that
(27:52):
much, but I hope you know how much
you mean to me.
You know what?
He cried.
I think it's important no matter when you
do it, you have to make sure that
you remember people, especially those that are there
for you.
Ladies and gentlemen, I'm John C.
Morley, serial entrepreneur.
(28:12):
Please do check out believemeachieve.com for more
of my amazing, inspiring creations.
I'll catch you guys in another show real
soon.
Have yourself a great Monday and a good
Memorial Day until I talk to you next.
Be well, everyone.
Hey guys, good evening, it is John C.
Morley here, serial entrepreneur, and a few guys
like myself are getting ready for the festivities
tomorrow for, yes, for Memorial Day.
I'm not sure if you're going to a
picnic or you're going to a wreath laying
(00:40):
like I'm going to, and then a picnic
later, but it's a great time to just
enjoy the moment.
All right, everyone, well, welcome everyone.
It's the second day on our master topic,
so welcome, welcome, welcome, welcome, and welcome everyone.
So the master topic for the week is
building unity through clarity, communication, and compassion.
(01:04):
The granular topic is disputes were resolved through
group discussion and consensus, series four, show 22,
episode number two, and a big welcome to
everyone here.
Be sure after the show or anytime thereafter,
check out believemeachieved.com for more of my
(01:25):
amazing, of course, inspiring creations.
You can do that 24 hours a day,
by the way.
Oh, and if you're hungry or you're thirsty,
I've got my water here.
Head off to the kitchen, get yourself something
delicious.
Maybe it's hot, maybe it's cold, maybe it's
sweet, maybe it's tart, doesn't really matter.
Just go ahead and get that.
It could be healthy or not.
Go get that and come on back to
(01:45):
the show, everyone.
I think that's really a great thing to
do, and we'll get this show kicked off
today.
All right.
So as I said, ladies and gentlemen, I
am John Seymour, a serial entrepreneur.
It's always such a privilege, a pleasure, and
honor to be with all of you here
on Inspirations for Your Life, as well as
any other pieces of content that I produce.
(02:07):
I'm not only a podcast host, but I'm
also a podcast coach, an engineer, and many
other things, marketing specialist, video producer, and really
it is a privilege to be with all
of you here.
So in this powerful episode, I'm going to
explore how something that I believe can, I
think, change us.
(02:30):
Changing us for, I'm going to go back
on to the connection of, basically the connection
of gratitude, because I feel we can never
finish gratitude.
It's not just an emotion, but it's transformative
mindset that can elevate every area of your
life, whether you're navigating moments of joy or
(02:52):
struggling through hardship.
Gratitude offers a powerful reframe, like a reset
button.
It's a way to rise above the challenges
with true intention and strong resilience.
Today or tonight, I'm going to unpack how
practicing gratitude regularly not only boosts your mental
(03:13):
and emotional health, but also unlocks stronger relationships,
deeper learning, and greater life satisfaction.
So get ready, everyone, to explore the life
-changing effects of gratitude and learn practical strategies
you can start using today or tomorrow to
create a more fulfilling life that I know
(03:34):
you definitely want.
So let's get right into point one.
Point one is introduction and purpose.
Gratitude is more than saying thank you.
This episode is designed to explore why cultivating
gratitude intentionally can shift the way we experience
everyday life.
Our purpose is to highlight how gratitude acts
(03:56):
as an internal compass, guiding us toward what
I want to call positivity, guys.
And I think that's something that a lot
of people, you know, they don't really get
it.
But I think it's important to understand this,
okay?
And I call this introduction and purpose is
(04:16):
what I call this, in case you guys
are wondering.
So again, it can shift the way we
experience everyday life.
Our purpose is to highlight how gratitude acts
as an internal compass, like I was saying.
Whether you're a leader, a learner, or someone
seeking some personal growth, understanding, and implementing gratitude
as a practice can anchor you and ignite
(04:38):
much higher levels of joy.
So I'm going to unpack this for you
now and let you know that this idea
is from both a personal and a professional
lens that I'm wearing.
To give you the insight and the tools
needed to make gratitude a core part of
your journey.
You might say to me, John, you know,
I'm too busy for gratitude.
(05:01):
You're too busy to say thank you.
You're too busy to take a moment to
give grace.
That's sad.
Very sad.
Number two, why this topic matters so much.
In a world filled with distractions, constant notifications,
(05:24):
and rapid change, it's easy to lose sight
of what's going well.
Gratitude brings us back to center.
It's scientifically linked to increased happiness, reduced stress,
and better sleep, and improved relationships.
This isn't fluff.
It's a proven actionable practice that reshapes how
(05:46):
we think and feel.
Gratitude matters because it allows us to see
abundance instead of scarcity.
Connection instead of isolation.
When we acknowledge the good in our lives,
no matter how small, we begin to shift
our mindset from one of lack to one
of empowerment and appreciation.
(06:07):
Number three, guys, current landscape trends.
In today's culture, especially post-pandemic, gratitude is
gaining a lot of ground, not just as
a feel-good trend or emotion, but as
a critical wellness strategy.
More schools, more businesses and communities are integrating
gratitude into their daily routines and culture.
(06:29):
From gratitude journals to team shout-outs, social
media has even amplified this with trends like
thankful Thursdays and digital gratitude challenges.
Apps now remind us to pause and reflect
encouraging momentum and giving us those moments of
mindfulness and appreciation.
(06:50):
What's clear is that the modern world is
finally waking up to the tangible power of
gratitude and people everywhere are discovering how transformational
it can be when consistently practiced.
It's not about, you know, coming in for
the short term.
It's the long term.
Number four, guys, common challenges.
(07:12):
Despite its benefits, many people struggle to consistently
practice gratitude.
One major challenge is the hustle culture mentality
where success is measured in productivity rather than
our presence.
Others find it hard to feel grateful when
they're dealing with anxiety, loss or even burnout.
(07:35):
And there's also a misconception that gratitude is
about ignoring the negative or pretending everything is
okay.
But real gratitude coexists with hardship.
It's not about denying problems.
It's about recognizing the good that still exists
alongside them.
I was working today.
(07:56):
I know it's a holiday weekend, but I
was working today because I had to do
some work for a medical facility and they
were closed and we needed quite a bit
of time to do this conversion.
We were basically swinging over an old server
to a new server with Active Directory and
all those things and then setting up security
permissions all over again.
And I had done this before, but it
(08:18):
was a little overwhelming because of the time,
because I wasn't able to do it in
time.
And I prayed and everything just sort of
fell into place.
Not that there were no issues, but everything
just went very smoothly.
And it was such a moment of grace
and gratitude that I can thank our Lord
(08:40):
and God for allowing me to have this
amazing set of days to accomplish this.
And overcoming these misconceptions is essential to fully
embrace the richness of gratitude.
I think a lot of people think gratitude
is something that's just going to get them
something.
So gratitude is not a one-way street,
(09:02):
folks.
You have to do things with gratitude over
and over again.
I think that is probably the most important
thing that I can tell you.
Number five, guys.
Opportunities for growth and improvement.
The beauty of gratitude is that it's accessible
to everyone and it's a skill that strengthens
with use.
(09:22):
Start by creating micro moments.
A morning reflection, a gratitude jar, or at
work, or ending the day by writing three
good things that happen.
Now, these small changes, okay, that's what they
are.
These small changes can snowball into powerful shifts.
In perspective, that is.
Leaders can integrate gratitude into team culture through
(09:45):
recognition programs or wellness check-ins.
Educators can model gratitude in the classroom to
foster emotional intelligence.
Every individual has an opportunity to grow simply
by making space to notice and appreciate the
good.
Turning daily moments into mindful milestones.
(10:06):
Number six, guys.
Key takeaways or lessons.
You know, we've learned a lot here.
Gratitude is not passive.
It's intentional.
It forces us to rewire the brain for
optimism.
It fosters resilience and it makes us more
aware of the richness in our own lives.
(10:27):
It's about seeing, well, what's right even when
everything feels wrong.
Practicing gratitude regularly doesn't just feel good.
It is good for your health, mindset, and
relationships.
From journaling to simply saying the words, that's
right, thank you.
And saying the words thank you as though
(10:48):
you mean it really goes a long way.
With sincerity, I like to say.
The consistent practice of gratitude can dramatically enhance
your life.
The biggest lesson is gratitude is always available,
folks.
Even in tough times, there's always something, however
small, to be thankful for.
I remember starting this project on Friday night
(11:10):
and there were some things we had to
do like, you know, get the assessment of
the previous server and do some backups and
stuff like that.
And I knew it wasn't going to get
done in a couple hours, so I said
we're just gonna let it take as long
as it takes.
And so I did the first step, which
was gathering all the information, making sure everything
(11:31):
was right, and then getting it to a
point where I could basically move to the
next step.
And moving to the next step was not
directly easy.
That's what I want to tell you.
It was not directly easy.
(11:54):
But what I can tell you is that
the process moved.
And when everything turned out great, I was
not only happy, I was so eternally grateful
and praying for thanks.
And you know, as I've grown in different
(12:15):
situations in my life, I just give gratitude
for everything, for the moment, for what I've
learned.
And now the next time I go to
do that, I was pretty smart, but now
I have an even better and faster way
to do it.
And so in the past, I would have
fret and I would have worried.
I'm like, oh my gosh, this and that.
I was just like, okay, I got to
get it done.
(12:36):
Not 100% sure how to do it,
but I'm going to figure it out.
And I did.
Number seven, our call to action.
Let today be a marker, a day that
you start your gratitude journey.
Pause right now and think of three things
you're grateful for.
That's right.
(12:57):
Pause right now.
Write them down.
If you're driving, when you get home, write
them down or put them into your iPhone
or your personal digital assistant and share them
with someone you trust.
Better yet, thank someone out loud.
Build this into your daily day, like brushing
your teeth.
Want to go further?
(13:18):
Start a seven day gratitude challenge or grab
a journal and document your reflections.
If you're leading a team, begin meetings with
a gratitude round.
Tag us online with your gratitude moments, guys.
Gratitude, just hashtag gratitude unlocked.
You know, it's time to stop waiting for
(13:40):
joy and to find you.
Use gratitude to create it.
You know, a wise person once said to
me, John, you know, I can't do anything
until the iron is hot.
And for a long time, I believed that
philosophy that you can't do anything until the
iron is hot.
You have to wait for the opportunity.
(14:02):
But then not too long after, I learned
that there's a way to approach that.
And that is strike to make the iron
hot.
So in our case, it means to be
proactive, right?
Not reactive.
And I think that's a very, very important
(14:22):
thing.
You might have heard the phrase, you know,
you got to wait for your ships to
come in.
Well, no, you don't.
If your ship hasn't come in, you need
to go out and get it.
Whether you swim out, whether you get a
boat out there, but you need to go
out and get your ships, all right?
Number eight, gratitude isn't just an attitude, folks.
(14:45):
It's a way of being.
It's a way of being present in the
moment.
When we slow down enough to enjoy a
cup of coffee, a cup of tea, piece
of chocolate cake, or some fruit, and choose
to see the beauty in our lives, we
unlock a deeper connection to ourselves and others.
(15:06):
See, gratitude doesn't promise to erase your problems
or challenges, but it does promise to give
you strength and perspective to face them.
Look at the challenges I had this weekend.
Didn't erase the challenge that I had, but
it gave me the resolve and the courage
and the strength and the creativity to solve
(15:28):
the problem.
But it does promise, as I said, the
strength and the perspective to face them head
on.
Remember, the happiest people don't have the best
of everything.
They make the best of everything they have.
So, take a breath, everyone.
Look around and start living your life through
the lens of appreciation.
The power to transform your world has been
(15:50):
with you all along.
But you might be saying to me, John,
I don't know how to harness that.
And now, guys, this is the part in
the program that I really love.
And I started doing this a few months
now, and I know a lot of you
tend to like it.
So, what I'm going to do is I'm
(16:12):
going to basically give you some personal stories,
one for each point.
And you're probably wondering why.
Well, the reason is I'm hoping that these
(16:35):
are going to solidify.
These are going to teach you that from
these lessons, okay, you too can rise to
any occasion.
Now, this challenge I had, I could have
worried about it and said, oh, my gosh,
how am I going to get it done?
And there were some points a few weeks
(16:57):
ago and a month ago, how am I
going to do this?
Then I said, you know what, John, don't
worry about it.
When it gets closer, you're going to figure
it out.
And the funny thing is, I didn't figure
it out until I was actually doing it.
That's crazy, I know.
(17:18):
Introduction and purpose.
An awakening.
A marketing executive had achieved all his career
goals by age 35, but something still felt
hollow to him.
Despite his success, he found himself increasingly anxious
and disconnected with the world.
(17:40):
After hearing about gratitude journaling and a leadership
retreat that I was putting on, he reluctantly
gave it a try.
Within weeks, he began to feel more grounded
and connected to not only himself, but everyone
around him.
Gratitude gave him the clarity to see his
accomplishments in a new light and reignited him
(18:02):
and his appreciation for the people and the
purposes in his life.
That one little shift redefined his approach to
work, well-being, and his entire personal life.
It wasn't about gaining more, folks.
It was about seeing more clearly what he
already had done.
(18:23):
Number two, why this topic matters so much.
Leo's mental health reset I want to talk
about.
Leo was a college sophomore, and I'm changing
the name because that's not really his name,
and he was overwhelmed by academic pressure and
social isolation during the pandemic.
Depression, unfortunately, crept in, and he felt like
(18:44):
he was losing himself.
On a counselor's recommendation, he started a gratitude
practice.
That happened to be me.
Even though it felt silly at first, each
day he wrote down three things he was
appreciative for.
No matter how small, slowly his mindset shifted.
He began noticing more good things around him,
even on bad days.
(19:05):
His sleep improved.
His relationship deepened.
Gratitude didn't erase his challenges, but it helped
him navigate them with hope.
For Leo, it was more than a coping
tool.
It became a lifeline.
Number three, the current landscape and trends.
Another person I coached, Chris, Chris's school transformation.
(19:28):
Chris, an elementary school teacher, noticed his students
were becoming more anxious and disengaged.
Instead of doubling down on the curriculum, he
introduced the daily gratitude circle, where kids shared
one thing they were thankful for.
Within weeks, the energy in the classroom changed.
Conflicts decreased, participation increased, and even parents began
(19:49):
noticing shifts at home.
Inspired by the results, the school adopted gratitude
moments school-wide.
Chris didn't just follow a trend.
He helped spark, well, a movement.
Gratitude became more than a buzzword, folks.
It was now woven into the fabric of
learning and all his connections that he had
(20:10):
and those that he would impress upon.
Number four, common challenges.
David had a little bit of resistance, and
again, it wasn't really his name, but David
was a startup founder.
He believed gratitude was too soft for the
fast-paced world of business.
Didn't have time for it.
He valued the hustle and bustle and didn't
have time for hugs either.
(20:31):
He just wanted to make money, but he
quickly burned out and hit very hard.
After electively hitting a leadership retreat that I
ran, he was challenged to express gratitude to
each member of the team.
He struggled especially with employees he criticized, but
once he began, something shifted and communication improved.
(20:57):
One employee even said, that was the first
time I felt seen here.
David realized that gratitude wasn't weakness.
It was wisdom.
His resistance melted into respect for something deeper,
a human personal connection.
I think a lot of people miss that
in the world, and when they don't get
(21:17):
it or something goes wrong, they blame it
on others, and that's the worst thing you
can do.
Number five, opportunities for growth improvement.
Thomas was working on a community project, and
I was helping him.
Thomas is a community organizer, and he wanted
to bring more unity to his neighborhood.
After months of social tension, he launched a
(21:38):
gratitude wall project in a local park where
people wrote messages of thanks to essential workers
and strangers.
The response was overwhelming.
What began as a small idea turned into
a community-wide movement, complete with monthly appreciation
gatherings and volunteer drives.
(22:01):
Thomas saw firsthand that gratitude isn't just personal,
it's social.
It's a spark that can ignite connection and
collective healing.
Number six, guys, the key takeaways or lessons.
Joe's daily practice.
Joe's a retired veteran.
He had faced trauma, grief, and years of
(22:22):
feeling adrift.
He visited me because he was just kind
of burnt out.
I introduced him to gratitude walks where he
would reflect on what he appreciated while walking
through nature.
At first, it felt like going through the
motions, and that's all he wanted to do.
But with consistency, he began to feel lighter.
(22:46):
Joe noticed the sound of the birds, the
smiles of the neighbors, the feeling of the
sun on his face.
Gratitude didn't ease his pain, but it gave
him a lens of grace.
That's a powerful lesson.
Gratitude is most powerful when practiced daily, not
when you feel great, but especially when you
don't.
(23:06):
I like to say this also about prayers.
I don't know if any of you are
religious, but you don't pray when you need
something.
You pray with gratitude every day.
Number seven, my call to action.
This was another person that had come to
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me, and I'm not going to use his
real name, but this was Ryan, and he
had a challenge.
Ryan was a graphic designer.
He realized how much he focused on what
was missing in his life.
More clients, more followers, more success, and one
day he challenged himself to post one thing
(23:48):
he was grateful for every day for a
month.
To his surprise, his online engagement soared, but
more importantly, so did his mood.
Friends started sharing their online gratitudes, and a
ripple effect began.
What started as a personal challenge turned into
a community habit.
(24:09):
Nina realized that gratitude isn't just meant, which
was another person he connected with, but I
think Ryan knew deep as well as helping
Nina realize that gratitude wasn't something that you
just feel.
It's meant to be shared, which is why
Ryan shared it with Nina and many other
(24:31):
close friends.
My closing thoughts or inspiring notes is about
Marcus.
Marcus is a single dad.
He's working two jobs, often felt like he
was burning a candle at both ends just
to survive, but one quiet evening, his daughter
handed him a hand-drawn card that said,
(24:53):
and I quote, thank you for always being
there, daddy.
He broke down in tears.
That one moment changed how he saw everything.
Instead of focusing on what he lacked, he
began celebrating the little victories.
Dinner together, laughter after homework, a peaceful morning.
Marcus began ending each day with a gratitude
(25:15):
prayer, and I started this a few years
ago, been very religious for a while, but
I started every day with a prayer.
So, of course, I do the short prayers,
but I've been doing something for quite a
while now.
I basically say 10 sets of the Hail
Marys, basically a rosary every day, and so
(25:39):
I'll say three in the morning when I
get up, three prayers.
Then if I get in the car and
I go somewhere, I'll say three prayers there.
That'll be six.
On the way back, I'll say another three
prayers.
That'll be nine, and I'll say one more
prayer before I get home, and I'm at
10, and then I'll end it with, you
know, glory be the father, etc.
(26:00):
Then I'll do the Our Father.
Then I have three affirmations, and I really
think and feel those every day.
I think when we understand that life isn't
always gonna be easy every moment, but something
(26:23):
Marcus now says, quote, gratitude didn't change my
circumstances.
It changed me.
So, I want to challenge all of you.
What if you started being grateful for something
in your life?
It could be something very small, and I
(26:48):
think that's an important thing that a lot
of people don't really understand, and if you
understand that, then maybe you'll know the gratitude
isn't for trying to get something out of
someone.
It's for really enjoying the moment, for enjoying
(27:11):
people, and I think too many people out
there are all about the material.
Now, there's nothing wrong with the material, but
I think we need to take a moment
to enjoy the humanistic quality.
I remember when it was my dad's birthday.
I didn't send him a card because I
knew I was sending him something special, which
(27:31):
was some mini birthday cakes, small ones, and
some chocolate chip cookies that were homemade from
a local place, and the phrase I put
on the card really touched him, which I
think was something important.
I think it was something to the effect,
you know, Dad, I know I don't always
say thank you or I love you that
(27:52):
much, but I hope you know how much
you mean to me.
You know what?
He cried.
I think it's important no matter when you
do it, you have to make sure that
you remember people, especially those that are there
for you.
Ladies and gentlemen, I'm John C.
Morley, serial entrepreneur.
(28:12):
Please do check out believemeachieve.com for more
of my amazing, inspiring creations.
I'll catch you guys in another show real
soon.
Have yourself a great Monday and a good
Memorial Day until I talk to you next.
Be well, everyone.
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