Gratitude - A powerful Tool

As we move into November, I can't help but reflect on the many people and experiences that have shaped me personally and professionally.  November is one of my favorite months, as words and acts of gratitude and thanks can be seen everywhere.  From social media and advertising to the aisles of your local Target and Grocers, proclamations of gratitude abound.  Gratitude is one of the most influential activities we can participate in - impacting physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

Habits can be formed through intentional practice; through such practice, we can rewire our brains to focus on the positive.  Gratitude leads us to acknowledge and celebrate good situations that we encounter.  Here are some of the benefits that this act of self-care can bring about:

• Lowers stress

• Improves sleep

• Strengthens relationships

• Improves creativity

• Lessens anxiety

 Gratitude Challenge - Join Me!

I challenge you to join me in practicing gratitude for the next 21 days.   I will share a post each day and provide a prompt to help guide the journey.  Feel free to comment or share via your post.  Together, we can experience the immense benefits of gratitude and use this act of self-care to create a strong foundation as we head into the stressful holiday season.

If you want to learn more about the benefits of gratitude, check out this Forbes Health article: https://www.forbes.com/health/mind/mental-health-benefits-of-gratitude/

Here's the first prompt:

Who has taught you something you've come to value?

Ken Hughes was a founding partner of Dixon Hughes Goodman, a top 20 accounting firm, which later became FORVIS. I had the honor of working with him and learning from him.  In a podcast, he shared that to build a long, successful career, we must continually re-invent ourselves.  While he had been CEO and his title had stayed the same for more than 40 years, his role often evolved, and he continually developed to meet the demands of the market, clients, team members, and the accounting industry.  His words stuck with me, and I reflect on them often - especially when I feel timid or anxious about my career and the path forward.  Thank you Ken Hughes, for sharing this advice with me, as it continues to be a north star and a guide for my career.