BEing Grateful: How Do You Share Your Gratitude?

This is the third post about gratitude and intentionally bringing it into your life. So far, we’ve explored gratitude as a practice and as a presence. Now, let’s look at how gratitude lives in relationship — how we share it.

Gratitude in Connection

Take a moment and consider these questions:

• How does gratitude show up in your life with others?
• Do you express it to the people you’re grateful to have in your world?
• Do you share your gratitude with clients, colleagues, and associates for what they bring to you and your business?
• Do you speak it, write it, or tell it about others?

Gratitude doesn’t grow in isolation. It expands when it’s shared — spoken aloud, written down, or demonstrated in our actions.

A Lesson in Gratitude and Appreciation

I was recently talking with Dave Williams, sales manager extraordinaire at Michael Alan, about how grateful I am for the work we do together and the relationships we’ve built.

He paused and said something that stopped me in my tracks.
He told me he feels appreciative rather than grateful.

Then he explained:

“Gratitude is personal — something you feel within yourself for the gifts and lessons in your life. Appreciation is outward — what you express to others for what they bring to your world or allow you to contribute to theirs.”

WOW. What a beautiful distinction. And what a generous insight to share.

Practicing Both

Gratitude connects you to yourself.
Appreciation connects you to others.

Both are essential — especially in leadership and sales, where relationships are everything.

So, here’s a simple practice:

1. Notice something you are grateful for today — quietly, internally.
2. Then, express appreciation to someone else — out loud, in writing, or through a thoughtful action.

Why This Matters

When we practice gratitude and appreciation together, we strengthen connection — to ourselves, to others, and to the work we love.

Now, go practice sharing your gratitude and your appreciation.
oxo
Jody