5 Powerful Ways Gratitude Can Boost Your Career

Practicing gratitude seems to be part of many discussions about health and well-being lately.  But recent studies are finding that it can also play a significant role in our career success.  2020 has been a difficult year for those of us who work in the entertainment industry.  Lockdowns and work shutdowns left many of us out of work for months and struggling to figure out how to move forward.  The pandemic has also made us appreciate our friends and family more than ever.  It hasn’t always been easy to practice gratitude in the midst of so much uncertainty, though.

However, since gratitude has been shown to have a positive impact on all aspects of our lives, including our careers, it’s worth a few moments of our attention every day.  It can make a tremendous difference in our outlook on life, as well as how we’re perceived by others in the workplace.

Here are 5 powerful ways focusing on gratitude can boost your career:

1. It makes us more likeable.

Studies have shown that practicing gratitude makes us feel better about ourselves and our circumstances.  People who practice gratitude have wider social networks and more friends.  As freelancers, we definitely need a broad network of friends and social contacts to expand our careers.  We’re also perceived by others to be more social and trustworthy when we practice gratitude.  In addition, it improves our self-esteem and opens the door to new opportunities.

2. Lessons stress.

Expressing gratitude has been shown to reduce stress and increase mental strength.  The film industry is a high pressure business.  Being able to calmly deal with a variety of creative personalities and unfamiliar locations is essential for career success.  Studies have shown that gratitude also makes us more resilient in the face of stress and trauma, even PTSD.  Finding things to be grateful for at work can help protect against the stress and negative side effects of our jobs.

3. Improves decision-making.

Gratitude lessons our desire for short-term gratification and makes us less impatient.  This enhances our managerial skills and motivational abilities.  In our industry, we’re often making rushed decisions when we’re tired and stressed.  Practicing gratitude can help keep us focused for better decision-making.  We can all benefit in our careers from making more well thought out decisions.

4. Help us find meaning and purpose in our work.

Sometimes long, stressful days on set can seem rather meaningless.  Gratitude has been shown to help us express more positive emotions, leading to a sense of meaning and purpose in our work.  It can give us a sense of fulfillment in our careers and meaning in our day to day work.  Gratitude makes us feel more valued at work.  We could all use more of that.

5. Improves sleep.

We’re in an industry where sleep deprivation is the norm.  Anything that will help improve our quality of  sleep is a welcome addition to our lives.  Studies have shown that gratitude improves our sleep, so we're able to face the new day well- rested.  One study even indicated that not only did participants sleep better, they experienced lower blood pressure, too.  Brief gratitude journaling before bed time can actually benefit our sleep.  Since the quality of our sleep greatly impacts our success at work and overall quality of life, evening journaling is definitely worth spending a few minutes on every evening.

Many things in our lives have felt out of our control in this crazy year.  Expressing gratitude is one way we can assert some control over our lives.  There is no down side to expressing gratitude for our lives and our careers.  We may be in a volatile industry, but we can be serene, focused and grateful.  Gratitude pays substantial dividends and we, along with our careers, are the beneficiaries.