Gratitude Journaling
This is an embarrassing story. It is one of those moments in my life that I hate recalling. When I was tending bar at a popular music venue in Tampa. I got caught up in the negative side of the business. My thinking was so gloomy that one day my co-worker kept track of my complaints. Halfway through the shift, he pulled me aside. And said, “you have been here for four hours and you have already made over twenty complaints.” His words left a huge impact on me. I was that guy at the water cooler. The Debby downer.
I needed a change. Anything to get me in a better state of mind.
So I turned Towards Gratitude Journaling
After weeks of jotting down what I was grateful for, I noticed something. My entire perspective had shifted.
Daily Gratitude is pretty simple. It is the act of recording the positives and overlooking the negatives. This exercise is powerful. Most folks mistake this daily habit as new age hoopla or spiritual mumbo jumbo. But it is far from it.
Writing down one thing your grateful for each day is the cheapest possible therapy ever.
What does this have to do with your next gig or event? The answer is simple. Everything.
The act of writing and recording your positives can make or break your career. When you are in an industry that is evolving it is important to stop for a minute, look around, and give thanks.
Daily Gratitude will
- Cause shifts in perspective
- Feelings of abundance
- Decreased feelings of fear and anxiety
Here is how daily gratitude has boosted my business and self-confidence. And can help transform your career.
When I started CJS my mentality was still stuck in the negative. I blamed the owners for not promoting or using our services. I blamed our musicians for not helping us grow and get better. I blamed other agents for being shady.
All this blaming and complaining left me drained, unproductive, and broke. There was no one to blame but myself.
“I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” -GK Chesterton
“ Reviewing the positives each day helps you see the good. And make the negatives become irrelevant.”
Let’s break this down.
You’re at a gig and the owner has you set up under a big screen. Right away, the aggravation has set in. And throughout the night your cynical vibe transcends in everything you do. The staff and patrons feel your energy and they are unable to connect with your sound.
On break, you make a snide post on Facebook and you even mumble something to one of the servers.
The negative focus has hijacked your energy.
Now, let’s flip the situation. Here is what will happen when you record only the positives for the day.
You will become immune to a Groundhog Day of misery.
If your goal is to record three positive things for the day. Then performing in front of a big screen will not make the list. The more you look for the good each day the less you will notice the bad. The only time you should remember the negatives is when there is a chance to grow and learn from the situation.
You have the opportunity to do something special. Don’t let your attention and mentality get hacked by negative vibes. Embrace the positive flow and shift your perspective with gratitude journaling.
