On gratitude and striving

Lately I’ve been reflecting on the tension I feel between gratitude and striving.

Contentment comes from appreciating what I have, rather than focusing on what I don’t. Gratitude for what we have is powerfully good for us. It helps eliminate the pain of always wanting more, of the hedonic treadmill. It’s something I regularly tell my daughter when she is asking for the next consumer item!

But if that means not striving for new experiences, growth, development, achievement – and yes, material things - well, that’s a turn-off. I know I would quickly become unhappy and stagnant.

Research tells us that gratitude is powerfully good for us, but it also tells us that wanting what we don’t have – ie, setting and achieving goals, particularly intrinsically motivated goals that are aligned with our values - is important for our wellbeing.

I realised the flaw in my thinking was in setting the two up as mutually exclusive.

In fact, I am more likely to grow when I am not fearful of scarcity - when my fearful parts can relax, knowing that there is already enough. In other words, when I practice gratitude. That then frees up clean, clear energy to focus on striving for what I really want.

How about you?

Take care of yourself and others,

Madeleine

I work with clients from executive leadership teams to the front line, helping them to make clearer decisions about what they want, and adapt faster and more easily to change and transition. I use deep purpose as a key to unlock powerful thriving in work and life.

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