If you’ve followed me for any length of time, you’ve probably heard me mention that one of the keys to my business growth and financial success has been gratitude. I stand by that wholeheartedly, but also know that it’s like to be in a place where it’s not so easy to feel grateful all the time.

 

Playing the business guessing game, stressed about where money will come from, confused by other’s success and your failures… I get it. I’ve even had times where I’ve thought that if one more person tells me to be grateful, I will punch my computer screen!

 

So, I’m not trying to tell you things are, will be or should be always “happy.”

 

But, I want to back up why I push the subject so much. There are the obvious benefits of gratitude; a happier attitude, you’re more likable, the natural optimism that comes with it… you get it.

 

And yet, there are far deeper benefits to focusing on gratitude than those things. When it comes to side hustling and entrepreneurship, you’re going to have a much easier time building your business if you do so with a lens of gratitude.

 

As Wallace D. Wattles says in my favorite book, the Science of Getting Rich:

 

“The closer you live to the source of wealth, the more wealth you shall receive.”

 

 

It’s easy enough to understand that the more grateful you are for what you have received, the more you will receive. If you spend all your mental time and energy focused on what you don’t have, you separate yourself from the very potential of receiving anything more.

 

This isn’t just a nice sentiment, either. There’s plenty of scientific back-up as to why gratitude is essential to the successful. As this article states, mentally strong people choose to exchange self-pity for gratitude. Doing this will result in things like improved relationships and networking,

improved physical health, improved sleep, and improved self-confidence.

 

When in doubt, be grateful for what you’re accomplishing, even if you can’t see the end result yet. If you find yourself not achieving something you thought you would achieve, instead feel gratitude for what you will achieve instead.

 

So, this week, what can we change in for gratitude? What roadblock, challenge, obstacle or struggle can be traded in for a blessing? I know it’s not always so easy to see very challenging times in a grateful light, but working towards doing so is the most worthwhile work we as humans and creators can do.

 

To making each day count.