Watch this short clip from “Jerry Maguire”:

This short clip, says so much about us as educators as well as our students.  This is something I have been thinking about a lot lately.

My friend Katie Martin shares three tips on the “The Science of Happiness: 3 Practices That Changed My Perspective” (I encourage you to read the whole post) after attending a keynote by  Dr. Tal Ben Shahar. The point on “gratitude” especially resonated with me:

3) Show Gratitude

This last one is so simple and complex at the same time- maybe that’s just me though. In a way, it requires vulnerability to express gratitude. I have a framed quote in my office that says, “start each day with a grateful heart.” But, to be honest, I am not always as intentional as I could be about this practice on a day to day basis even though I am so grateful for all I have and really appreciate when people share their gratitude with me.

I do my best to show gratitude to those closest me (I could get better), but I know that I have been bad at showing appreciation for things in my life.  It is easy to get caught up in deficit thinking, but I have been trying to start my morning off with thinking about three things I am grateful for in my life. It has helped me start on a positive note even when I am having a tough day/week mentally and emotionally.

But one thing I am truly grateful for is that I have people in my life that I can contact and say, “Hey…I need a pep talk.”  And they never fail me. Sometimes I don’t listen to what they say, but I always realize that I am grateful that I can count on them for saying it.

Surround yourself with people that fill you up.  As I have grown older, I have realized that a small circle of those people in your life who are willing to have your back and fill you up, is much better than a large circle that has no interest in doing the same thing.

Source: George Couros