I’ve just learned of another round of cuts that are going to squeeze things even tighter in my workplace.  This is a good company, but it’s getting mighty hard to stay motivated and upbeat about work when there’s so much bad news coming our way.  It feels like I’m caught in a downward spiral and I need something to pull me out.  Help!

Layoffs; downsizing; plant closings; budget cuts; do less with more… with all the doom and gloom about the world of work coming at us from every direction, it’s hard for anyone to stay positive.  Yet a pessimistic outlook and a bad attitude just bring everyone down and make things worse.  The Thanksgiving holiday is the perfect time to begin developing an Attitude of Gratitude to get you through the tough times ahead.  As you count your blessings today, include some of the things for which you are grateful in your world of work.  The following list will give you a jump start.

Employment.  With unemployment rates on the rise, you can be grateful for a regular paycheck.  While you may not be in your dream job or getting paid all you deserve, if it pays the bills and provides some benefits, it’s probably better than what you’ll get in the unemployment line.

Supportive co-workers.  Most of us work with good, decent human beings who can be counted on to lend a helping hand when the going gets rough.  You can be grateful that you don’t have to walk this challenging road alone.

Learning Opportunities.  Whether it’s on-the-job training, a mentoring relationship, cross-training, or the prospect of building education and knowledge outside of the workplace, many organizations offer a variety of options to improve your skills.  You can be grateful that these opportunities not only make you a more valued employee, they make you more employable should you seek a job elsewhere.

Experience.  The experience you gain on the job helps you do your job better.  You can be grateful that your job experience is also a great asset on your resume.

Contacts.  The people we encounter through our work - customers, clients, co-workers, vendors, etc. - are involved in many networks, including family, friends, neighbors, civic groups, professional organizations, etc.  You can be grateful for the invaluable resources that can be available to you through your work associations and their networks.

According to Meister Eckhart, “If the only prayer you said in your life was “thank you” that would suffice.”  Have a blessed Thanksgiving!

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