Mindset Made Simple Tip #230
I LOVE Christmas carols! We spent Sunday morning jamming to a few at a local church’s Christmas concert. It was awesome!
Carols evoke all kinds of emotions in me – playful energy, tearful reflection, pure joy, and, maybe most importantly, gratitude for what I believe is the greatest gift and story ever told.
I heard one the other morning while working out that made me think about how this season, gratitude and performance go together.
Francesca Battistelli’s Heaven Everywhere offers a beautiful reminder of how our mindset shifts during this time of year!
“Somehow there's a little more love
Maybe there's a little less of us
Or maybe we're just slightly more aware
There's a little bit of Heaven everywhere.”
As I hear these words and think about this time of year, it seems we are invited to step outside our heads and focus on something bigger than ourselves. This same act improves our performance!
The specific lyrics of “a little less of us” and “slightly more aware” reminded me that looking at what’s good around us and sharing that goodness with others multiplies it! It’s a call to spread joy in a way that transforms us and everything we do AND the people around us!
I had to work hard to fit this in, but I can't move on without tying this quote into gratitude, too! “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.” Don’t know it, you can’t live in my house 😊!
Even Buddy the Elf knows that focusing on joy and wonder and sharing it can make Santa’s sleigh fly! The same applies to gratitude. When we actively express appreciation, it creates a ripple effect, spreading positive energy and reminding us of even the smallest of gifts around us!
Gratitude is the song that spreads joy, and it can transform our lives, teams, and organizations. It's contagious...and something we want everyone around us to catch!
It’s easy to get caught up in setting goals, solving problems and working the plan that we often forget to pause and notice what’s good around us. That’s what this season does…we stop and think of others as we shop, share and leave cookies for Santa…or Guinness if you live in Ireland!
Yes, gratitude seems easy when we receive gifts, but what if it is the key to better performance and deeper connections no matter what time of year?
Gratitude changes us…from the inside out. It reduces stress, enhances resilience, and even boosts our immune system.
When we’re grateful, we focus less on what’s wrong and more on what’s right. One of the benefits of starting a gratitude practice, even one that takes less than 2 minutes a day, is that we begin searching for the good stuff knowing we need something to report before we go to bed. If we missed things throughout the day, no problem! We have a chance to do a quick “what was good” review and then we relive it, record it and change the neurochemicals in our brain for the good!
Shawn Achor, in The Happiness Advantage, talks a ton about how gratitude can rewire the brain for success, enhance our mindset and change our perspective. Gratitude triggers the release of dopamine and serotonin, the "feel-good" chemicals that enhance creativity, problem-solving, and focus…and performance!
What do you do in this two-minute gratitude drill to get those neurotransmitters going?
Try my simple method. Put a notebook by your bed. Write down two or three things you’re grateful for, they could be as simple as you got your workout in or as amazing as the Christmas gift or the miracle of a lamp burning for 8 days on one day’s fuel!
Keep it simple. And if you skip a day, oh well! No one is perfect.
Then, every now and then, take a few minutes to look back at the pages and read your entries. This is a GREAT way to remind ourselves of the blessings, no matter how small, that surround us…that we often overlook! I throw in my personal affirmation at the end, too...just to remind myself of who I want to work to be tomorrow so I set my RAS up to look for opportunities to be that person!
Not into recording the good stuff at night? How about starting your day off with a quick note of appreciation via email (or even text) before you start your work – a colleague, an athlete, a mentor, it doesn’t matter! This 2-minute tool primes your brain for positivity and sets the tone for a productive day AND it uplifts the recipient! BONUS STRATEGY!!
“A little less of us” and a little more counting our blessings, even on the dark days can make a huge difference. Emmons and McCullough (2003) found that those who wrote down things for which they were grateful when compared to those who wrote down daily events or hassles reported higher levels of positive affect, looked a the week ahead with more optimism, experienced fewer physical symptoms (pain, discomfort, sickness), engaged in more physical exercise and reported higher feelings of connectedness to others.
Coaches…did you read that they did more exercise? Maybe a pre or post-practice gratitude drill can help your team’s physical prep, too?
No matter how you choose to intentionally collect and recollect the good stuff, it is sure to make you and those around you better!
Gratitude is more than a feeling; it’s a leadership tool. It helps us connect more deeply, manage stress more effectively, and foster environments where people can thrive. When we focus on gratitude, we create that “little bit of Heaven everywhere,” one act of appreciation at a time.
So, channel your inner Buddy the Elf and share your gratitude “loud for all to hear.” Write that email, say thank you in person, or start a team meeting with a gratitude moment. When we count our blessings, we make the world—and ourselves—better. And that’s a gift worth sharing.
Manage the moments!
Julie
P.S. I am more than grateful for all the athletes, coaches and teams that trust me as a partner in enhancing performance. I look forward to a great 2025 and wish you all a happy and healthy holiday season!
Julie Jones
Mental Performance Coach
SSB Performance
juliej@ssbperformance.com • 234-206-0946
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