The Power of Gratitude During Economic Downturns

It can be tempting during times of economic uncertainty and struggle to revert to a mentality of scarcity and victimhood. Business owners in particular face the brunt of economic impact because they take on so much risk. This article will unpack why practicing financial gratitude will fortify your mindset for tough economic times and enable you to endure these seasons in your business.

When the economy is struggling, it's easy to only see the negatives. Businesses are closing, people are being laid off and uncertainty abounds. Not to mention, mainstream media eats this up and likes to play on these extremes, making you feel even worse. It's during these tough times that financial gratitude can serve as a powerful tool to help you maintain perspective and hope.

Gratitude has been shown to have a number of benefits for mental health, including reducing anxiety and increasing happiness. Researchers have also found that gratitude can help us weather difficult life transitions, like job loss or economic hardship. In one study, researchers followed a group of people who had recently experienced financial difficulty and found that those who focused on what they were grateful for reported feeling better about their lives overall, despite their financial struggles. Most of us are unaware of just how much a small shift in perspective can have an impact on our performance in health, wealth and all dimensions of life.

The power of gratitude lies in its ability to help us reframe our mindset from one of scarcity to one of abundance. When we focus on what we have, rather than what we lack, we open ourselves up to new possibilities and opportunities. We also become more resilient in the face of adversity because we know that our current circumstances are not permanent.

Gratitude also helps you ground yourself and realize that these emotions and conditions are temporary. All of the highs and lows are temporary because we experience various cycles and seasons in business. If we can embrace the natural cycles and develop tools to thrive in all seasons as opposed to trying to fight them, we find more peace and prosperity in what we are building.

So, how can you apply more gratitude in your daily life? Some examples include:

• Keep a gratitude journal and write down 3 things you're grateful for each day
• Start your morning with financial affirmations such as "I am grateful for my many blessings"
• Make it a point to thank your clients, employees and vendors regularly
• Write a letter of financial gratitude to yourself, expressing appreciation for all that you've accomplished

When you focus on financial gratitude, you not only improve your mental state but also open yourself up to new opportunities for abundance. Plus you become a more pleasant person to work and interact with. So, during these tough economic times, make financial gratitude a part of your daily routine and watch your perspective—and business—transform for the better.