Thank You Marion!

As we approach Bell Let’s Talk – an initiative designed to create discussion around the challenges of mental health in Canada, I thought it was important to tackle this topic by sharing one of the most powerful but often neglected strategy to overcome mental health challenges:  Gratitude

The Science of Gratitude:

If we take a deeper look at gratitude, we find that ‘gratia’, is the Latin origin for ‘gratitude’ and means grace, graciousness, or gratefulness. Gratitude is an appreciation from receipt of something tangible or intangible from an individual (Giving thanks makes you happier).

In a rigorous examination of the effects of gratitude on stress and depressive symptoms in hospital staff, researchers learned that the participants randomly assigned to the gratitude group reported fewer depressive symptoms and stress (Cheng, Tsui, & Lam, 2015). Finding things to be grateful for at work, even in stressful jobs, can help protect staff from the negative side effects of their job.

In a different study, researcher Chih-Che Lin (2017) found that a high level of gratitude had a strong positive impact on overall psychological well-being, self-esteem and even depression. Basically, this means that we can reap the best benefits of gratitude by embodying gratitude and truly living a life of gratitude, a state that we can get to through regular practice and commitment.

Positive Effects of Journaling:

As described above, simple acts of gratitude can have a huge impact on your health and happiness.  These effects are particularly evident in the practice of gratitude journaling. It only takes a few minutes a day, but it can give you a lasting mood boost that can take you from feeling “okay” to feeling “great” on a more regular basis.  In fact, gratitude researchers in Australia found evidence that gratitude journaling helped school leaders foster a balanced view of the good and bad things that happen at school, use more appreciative problem solving, find value in school-based relationships, and experience more positive emotion, ultimately making them better and happier leaders (Waters & Stokes, 2015).

How to Start:  A gratitude journal is, quite simply, a tool to keep track of the good things in life. No matter how difficult and defeating life can sometimes feel, there is always something to feel grateful for. Simply write down (or type) the things you are grateful for on a daily basis. You can use a journal, diary, notebook, or just a piece of paper. If you’re committed to being green or just find it easier to do things digitally, you can use one of the many gratitude apps.

It’s also important to note that those practicing gratitude journaling reported a 35% reduction in depressive symptoms for as long as the journaling continued (Seligman et al., 2005). This is an amazing finding and suggests that gratitude journaling can be an effective supplement to treatment for depression.

My Gratitude Letter:

From 2006 to 2012 I was honoured to have had the opportunity to work with Marion Harper-Treskin.  Even though her departure came to a shock to me at the time, I knew the opportunity she had in front of her would be ideal for her overall career trajectory. 

Nonetheless, as the Director of HR, I was required to put my emotions aside and quickly shift my mindset to ensuring that the weeks following her resignation were filled with nothing but joy and happiness for her and her family.  Mission Accomplished…. almost! 

To this day the one regret I had in the whole process, was not doing a more admirable job in sharing my immense gratitude to Marion on how much she meant to me both professionally and personally.  So, in an attempt to right this “wrong,” please accept this gratitude letter as my humble offering:

Dear Marion:

In life when we go through memorable or even traumatic experiences, these events leave an imprint in our minds of the details of that situation.  I will never forget where I was when I heard the news of Princess Diana’s death or in whose company I was with when I heard the tragic news of the plane of John F. Kennedy Jr. going missing.  These types of events elicit emotional reactions that make them a lasting memory.  However, not everything makes it into our memory, so what makes these events different?  The answer:  things that are more emotionally significant will be encoded in our brains.  

The day you told you told me you were leaving the your position was emotionally significant to me and thus, that moment will be something that will remain in my memory forever. It was emotionally significant due to impact that you had on me in every way you could imagine and not only due to the fact that I was also sad to lose the opportunity to see you on a day-to-day basis.

I remember when I first joined the company, you were constantly challenging me in everything that I did.  I honestly felt as though I was not going to make it beyond my 3 month probation period!  However, I realized in my performance review that I was being challenged because you simply CARED about my development and myself as a person.  This is something that set you apart from so many other leaders – your ability to GENUINELY CARE for your team.

But when you showed CARE, it was more than just for my professional development.  In our one-on-ones you often took a keen interest in my personal life.  Even though I am quite a “private person,” you opened up about your family to me to show me how I can practise being more vulnerable and open myself.  When I shared that I wanted to take a vacation to the middle east to perform a religious obligation called the “HAJJ,” you asked me what it was, what it entailed and why do Muslims perform this.  It felt great to be able to have someone at work to share my passions with.  For this, I am truly grateful.

Up to that point, I was never as comfortable with a leader than I was with you and I know full well how hard that is to find.  So, from the bottom of my heart THANK YOU Marion for your openness, honesty but most of all for BEING YOU.  It was an absolute honour and privilege to have had the opportunity to work directly for you and an experience that I will be eternally grateful for.

Be well,

Moe.

If you found this helpful, I would be grateful! if you could share this with your friends and family. If you related to this article in anyway and would like to share your experience with practicing gratitude I’d love to see read your experience in the comments below.

Together, we can increase our personal well-being and continue to get better!

Read: Focus on Meaning!

My best to you and your loved ones!

Until next time,

Be well,

Coach Mumdoo

604-861-4288

[email protected]

We believe every day is an opportunity to “get better.”

The most critical factor in seizing this opportunity is your well-being.

Your well-being is our obsession.