TED Talk How to Use Gratitude in Your Job Search

teddy boy Talk How to Use Gratitude in Your Job SearchTED Talk How to Use Gratitude in Your Job Search4Everywzu siche we look in the world today we can are reminded of the practice of gratitude. Gratitude is becoming a bit of a buzzword these days, showing up in all aspects of our lives, from how we eat to how we manage our finances. For job seekers, its about how to use gratitude in a job search.According to Brother David Steindl-Rast, an interfaith scholar and monk who delivered a TED talk on gratitude, us human beings have one thing in common- the desire to be happy. Happiness, as it happens, stems from gratitude, and not the other way around. Brother David Steindl-Rast is adamant to clear up this difference as it is often overlooked. To highlight this point, he shares an example of knowing people who have lots of material possessions, yet they are not happy because of a constant urge to obtain more. On the opposite end, there are people who have very little and who have suffered great tragedy, yet are radiating with happiness. How can this be? Because it is gratefulness that makes us happy, not happiness that makes us grateful. Brother David Steindl-Rast shares how we can not only have grateful experiencesbut actually live gratefully. In realizing that every moment is a gift,or a given moment as he calls it, we begin to notice the immense and unlimited opportunities that are presented to us each day, each hour, each minute. We have been raised to believe that opportunity knocks only once, yet he believes this to be quite the contrary, as every new moment is a gift, an opportunity. Brother David Steindl-Rast suggests that we can avail ourselves of these never-ending opportunities, or we can miss it. Once we open ourselves up to infinite opportunity, we then can unlock the key to happiness.Even when presented with a challenge, we can rise to the opportunity that has been given to us. In our hectic and overly scheduled lives we often times miss these signs of opportunity because we are rushing through them.Brother David Steindl-Rast suggests that we build in our own stop signs to slow down and relish in the opportunities that surround us every day. Drawing from the lessons we learned as a kid when learning to cross the street, we need to first stop, take a pause in our busy lives look, to open all of our senses and our hearts andgo, and take the opportunity and be creative.According to Brother David Steindl-Rast, when put into practice, gratefulness can have the following effectsIt enables us to be less fearful, and therefore, less violent.You stop acting out of a place of scarcity and are more willing to share.Diversity and respect for all are embraced.How does this all relate to finding a job? There are numerous ways in which practicing gratitude can have an effect on our professional lives.Here are five tips on how to use gratitude in your job search1. Document your gratefulness.List five things about your current job/professional lif e that you are grateful for. Even if you are miserable in your current position, try and find five aspects of your job that you like, such as a coworker you get along with or your steady paycheck. In naming the things we are grateful for in life, we are generating feelings of appreciation that will spark happiness and keep us healthy. The law of attraction applies here as well. When you only focus on the negative aspects of your life, that is what you attract. Try shifting your perspective to a more positive one, and take notice of what shifts, big or small, happen in your life.2. Dont overlook any opportunities.Taking the advice from Brother David Steindl-Rast, opportunities are always surrounding us if we take the time to slow down and notice them. Even if you are faced with a bleak job market, or have experienced several rounds of unsuccessful interviews, what can you learn from that experience? Perhaps the opportunity was in creating a more fluid and streamlined resume, or in re fining your interviewing skills.3. Share with others.Sharing opportunities with others is one of the best ways to further manifest your own opportunities. In your job search youre bound to come across a wealth of related articles, resources, and even potential job opportunities that may not be a good fit for you, but could be for a friend, relative, or colleague.4. Keep a journal.Record your experience in expressing and sharing gratitude in a gratitude journal. The information you record could be more gratitude lists, daily steps youve taken to finding your dream job, or any progress you have made.5. Express your gratitude to others.Last, but not least, is the practice of expressing your feelings of gratitude with your community. From sending a follow-up thank-you note to your prospective employerto taking your friend out to lunch for her help on your resume, there areno shortage of ways to thank the people in your life who are helping you find a better job.Readers, did you use grat itude in your job search? What tips would you share with others on how to use gratitude in your search? Share in the comments below