I’m not sure what resolutions you have made for this year or which ones you have already given up but I do know the one you need to make if you haven’t done so already. Don’t worry that it’s already the second week in January. It’s not too late to start this one.
This year I encourage you to take a daily Thank You Walk—a walk of gratitude.
How does it work? You simply take a walk—outside, in a mall, at your office, on a treadmill—and while walking you think about all the things, big and small, that you are grateful for.
The research shows you can’t be stressed and thankful at the same time so when you combine gratitude with physical exercise, you give yourself a double boost of positive energy. You flood your brain and body with positive emotions and natural anti-depressants that uplift you rather than the stress hormones that drain and slowly kill you.
As someone who is not a naturally positive person, people often ask me the #1 thing I do to be more positive and happier and it is a Thank You Walk. I’ve been doing it for 9 years now and it makes a huge difference in my mindset, life and work.
Almost every book and newsletter idea I’ve ever had has come about during these walks. But it’s not just ideas that come to you. You also find peace of mind, clarity, and strength to take on challenges in life and at work.
I’m confident that a daily Thank You Walk will make you a better leader, manager, employee, teammate, parent and person. Remember though, you have to do it more than just once a year to make a difference. Think of your mind like a garden. If you weed the negative and feed the positive for just one day it won’t do much.
However, if you weed and feed your mind daily, think about how beautiful the garden will look in a week, then a month, then a year. Over a lifetime you will create a magnificent garden by feeding it support, nourishment and gratitude.
Ten minutes a day is all it takes. We all have ten minutes. We talk to people we don’t even like for ten minutes.
Give yourself ten minutes a day this year…walk and talk with gratitude and you’ll create more success and happiness at work and home.
