gratitude.

I've been listening to the audio-broadcast of a conference called "Masterful Leadership: Leading Like Jesus" on my Audible App as I drive to and from work each day.

It's been enlightening...encouraging...and challenging.

I've paused the "book" to take notes.

I've pushed the "back" button to listen to a specific segment again more times than I can count.

And I've said "yes", "hmmm...", and "preach" right out loud to myself in my car several times.

I listened to one particular section three different times.
​
This section was on the concept of the "mood elevator", which was developed by a man named Larry Senn.

Larry Senn is a leader in the field of corporate leadership and has written a book called, Up the Mood Elevator to describe and teach this decision-making concept.

The Mood Elevator is a book that, admittedly, I haven't finished yet.

But when I heard the mood elevator concept in the message from the "Lead Like Jesus" conference, I just had to share it because it was mind-blowing to me!

The basic idea is that we ride the mood elevator up and down every day.

Our mood affects everything we do...
our work,
our home life,
the way we treat our family and friends...
everything.

The speaker at the conference was explaining that we have our best decision-making skills when we are at the top of the elevator.

Without seeing the graphic at the left yet, I was just assuming that the top of the mood elevator was "joy".  

I mean...what mood is there that would be higher on the elevator than joy???

Joy is "a feeling of great pleasure and happiness".

That seemed like the top option, as far as mood is concerned.

Until the speaker shared with the audience that the top of the mood elevator is being grateful.

Gratitude.  Thankfulness.  Appreciation.

We make the best decisions when we are grateful.

It made so much sense to me that I spoke out loud and said, "Oh, duh!"

I think it's important here that we talk about how quickly we can take a trip up or down the mood elevator, if we're not careful.

We can hear one negative comment that, if left unchecked, can quickly take us spiraling into an irritated, anxious, insecure state of mind that eventually could lead to anger and depression.

It's so necessary that we keep our thoughts in check every day and focus on gratitude.

During this last sermon series at church, our minister preached a sermon called "Don't Forget to Pray".

In this sermon, he talked about staying alert to things in our lives that we need to take to the Father.

He talked about being devoted daily to prayer.

And he also talked about the importance of being thankful.

I deeply appreciated his admission that there are days where it's very hard to find something to be thankful for.

Sometimes we have to open our eyes and look hard to find opportunities to be thankful.

In every circumstance, we can find gratitude.

This attitude of being grateful in all situations goes hand-in-hand with the time we spend at the top of the mood elevator.

​And the more time we spend at the top of the mood elevator, the more peace and contentment we will find in our daily lives.

So today and every day, let's be intentional about finding gratitude.

Let's give thanks in all circumstances.

Let's ride that mood elevator to the top floor and be the best we can be.

Giving thanks from the farmhouse tonight.

​❤️🏡❤️