The world is not what it was just a few years ago. For many people the new stressors—whether it is current health care prices, the polarization in politics, mental health, crime or the cost of food— we have reasons to feel worried.
It can be hard to be consistently grateful, especially when life is challenging.
The happiest, calmest, and most effective leaders I know are people who regularly take time to name things for which they are grateful, especially during times of adversity. I know we’ve all heard this 100 times, but I want to focus on the adversity part.
The man whose marriage fell apart and is estranged from his own children largely fromhis misuse of alcohol, says after 15 years of sobriety: “I am grateful for this disease.”
The mother of three young children, who is now “cancer free”, but not certain about her future, chooses to live the moment and to appreciate all she has been given.
The middle-aged husband whose wife has early onset Alzheimer’s says. “This one is not going to be easy, yet I give thanks for what it is already teaching me.”
We all have hardships. It’s not the level of challenge that shapes our lives, it is how we respond to them. It’s the inner story we create. Church leader Dieter Uchtdorf said this as well as anyone:
It is your reaction to adversity, not the adversity itself, that determines how your life’s story will develop.
What is your inner story when the $#it hits the fan? What is your reaction to adversity?
We could talk about deep breathing, prayer, exercise, the physiology of gratitude, healing past trauma, but it just comes down to a decision we make or don’t make. Gratitude of this type is not about feelings. It is an act of the will. A habit. A regular practice. And it shapes who we are becoming.
So, as you are celebrating this holiday if you are feeling stretched or anxious, consider that your life is right now being shaped by how you respond.
I encourage you to say “Thank You” and mean it, especially for the tough stuff, (and even to the difficult people in your life) and to believe in the power of gratitude.
I am grateful for each of you and to those of you who engaged Esch Consulting, LLC for training, coaching and keynotes this year. It’s been a fabulous year!
If you are in public works or construction and want to improve your ability to communicate, consider attending our Dec 11th communication training in Mounds View, click here for more info.
If you are interested in coaching or training, do not hesitate to reach out to us in December or January. Our calendar is filling up for first quarter 2026.
Tom Esch, President and Founder of Esch Consulting, LLC