"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” - Albert Einstein

Gratitude is one of those things you know you should focus on, but when you’re hustling to build your business and brand it can be easily overlooked. But did you know that learning to focus on feeling grateful can affect your success as a founder? Here are a few major ways gratitude and success are connected.

Feeling Grateful Improves Your Mental Health

"I try to be grateful for the abundance of the blessings that I have, for the journey that I'm on and to relish each day as a gift" - James McGreevey

Several studies have shown that practicing gratitude has definite psychological and even physical benefits. When you feel gratitude, it can increase your feelings of vitality and optimism and reduces feelings of depression, while also giving your overall well-being a boost.

It’s easy to imagine how this can lead to more success both professionally and personally: the more vibrant, alive, and healthy you feel, the more energy you will have to dedicate to your business as well as your personal goals. Plus, if you begin feeling more positive feelings, you may be more inclined to take a few of those leaps of faith which are so often necessary when taking your success to the next level. This is one of the major reasons success and gratitude go hand-in-hand.

Feeling Grateful Shifts Your Focus

“Speak only endearing speech, speech that is welcomed. Speech, when it brings no evil to others, is a pleasant thing.” - Buddha

Have you ever noticed that the more you focus on the negatives - daily inconveniences, setbacks, hurdles, etc.- the more those things seem to grow and consume your time? By choosing instead to focus on positive developments in your life and business, and cultivating a deeper appreciation for those good things, you will shift your focus toward appreciation for the things that turn out well.

As you notice your successes more often, you will probably notice that your success grows the same way setbacks used to when that’s what you chose to focus on. Plus, by becoming a more grateful and positive person, you will become someone other entrepreneurs and business people feel great being around, which can lead to more opportunities for collaboration.

A Grateful Attitude Promotes a Positive Company Culture

"In the household in which I was raised, the themes were pretty simple. Work hard. Don't quit. Be appreciative, be thankful, be grateful, be respectful. Also, never whine, never complain. And always, for crying out loud, keep a sense of humor." - Michael Keaton

According to polls, less than 15% of people regularly express gratitude to work colleagues. What might happen if you decide to become the exception to that depressing statistic and find ways to thank and show your gratitude for team members, staff, clients, and vendors on a regular basis? Most likely, they will get a boost from feeling appreciated and feel even more motivated to do a great job.

Not only will this contribute to the overall success of your business, but it will also promote a healthier and more positive company culture. People will want to work with you and for you, because they will feel appreciated. In turn, they will be more likely to express gratitude for you, which can boost your own motivation.

Practice Gratitude to Improve Your Life and Business

Making gratitude a priority not only feels amazing, but it can also help you become more successful. If gratitude does not come naturally to you, don’t despair: anyone can learn to be more grateful and make gratitude a habit, even if your tendency is to be a pessimist.

One simple way to incorporate gratitude into your daily life is to keep a gratitude journal. Start and end each day by jotting down a few things you feel grateful for. Perhaps you are grateful for how well your presentation went, for the beautiful weather outside, or for the fun time you just spent with family. It may feel silly at first, but this simple gratitude practice will, with time, help you to feel gratitude more easily.