Louise Thompson: What are you thankful for?

What are you most grateful for in 2014? Photo / Thinkstock

Christmas comes hard on the heels of Thanksgiving stateside and I am part of a huge tribe of international coaches, so my Facebook gets flooded once a year with an outpouring of thoughtful gratitudes. It strikes me as a lovely practice to have a whole day dedicated to giving collective thanks. It's so easy for us to get absorbed in our first world problems (the traffic was bad; we left our iPhone charger behind) and lose perspective how how very, very lucky we are to live such an abundant life in such an incredible country.

For some they feel lucky to have survived all that 2014 has thrown their way. For others it's been a stellar year of accomplishment and achievement. Whether you have had a horror show you want to put behind you, or a year so good you want an encore - this is a great time to give thanks.

Showing appreciation, not just in word but in deed, creates a subtle perspective shift amidst the hustle and bustle of the Christmas logistics hustle. Taking five minutes out from the frenzy that characterises this time of year to look at how 2014 has treated you, and who and what you would like to thank is a great five minute mood booster. Here are a few thought starters:

• What are the three things best things you want to give thanks for in your personal life in 2014?

• What are the 3 best things you want to appreciate that have happened in your professional life in 2014?

• What awesome thing happened for you in 2014 that you could never have imagined back in January?

• How are you grateful for this experience?

• Who are the three people you most want to thank for bringing joy or ease into your life in 2014? Is it who you expect? How would you like to demonstrate that gratitude?

• What experience did you survive in 2014? What rocked your world, but you made it through? Who are you grateful to for supporting you? What was the silver lining you can be grateful for?

• What are you most grateful for in 2014?

Expressing gratitude makes us feel happy. It also shifts our perspective. It's likely your answers are all very big picture - gratitude for health or loved ones, or big ticket work items such as promotion. This big picture focus automatically pulls us clear of the first world gripes about delays and queues and the like. Gratitude refocuses us effortlessly to what is truly important to us.

So, on to my thanks. Thank you for reading in 2014. Your continual "you read my mind! How did you know that was exactly what I needed to hear" emails gladden my heart every day. Have a truly restive, festive season and I look forward to continuing the journey with you in 2015.