I’ve just come back from teaching Huna to a fair sized group of delegates, and the overwhelming emotion it has left me with is one of gratitude: I am just so grateful that I get to do this, and do it in Hawai’i, and that there are so many amazing people supporting me on my journey.
I’ve been teaching on Matt James’ Huna workshop for nearly 10 years now. However, its only recently that I’ve had to really step up and take myself out of my comfort zone to teach day in, day out, to teach material that I haven’t used for a while, or to organise other people to make things happen. And one of the things this dis-comfort has made realise is that I don’t have to struggle on my own. Independence is all very well, but there comes a time when you just have to accept help from others. And this trip, that was what I did.
I felt cosseted – people fed me, gave me chocolate (really good chocolate!), and even did my washing for me, which is a big one when you’re spending 2 weeks in a hotel!) They offered help – and meant it. And now, people who have no direct connection with Huna are offering to help me start teaching it over here. It truly fills me with a sense of just how magnificent human beings are, and how lucky I am to be tapped in to people who have such generosity of spirit. I am indeed humbled. Just thinking about the generosity of my friends and acquaintances over the last few weeks brings tears to my eyes.
Because sadly, it’s so easy to get trapped in the humdrum of daily life that we forget that we all do have that generosity of spirit. I’ve been there many times. And in that state, it’s so easy, too, to forget to be grateful, or to think that you don’t have time to show your appreciation.
‘So what’s this got to do with my career?’ I hear you ask. Well, a lot actually. I was reading about a recent report that indicates that employees feel that bosses don’t show enough appreciation. At the same time, what bosses and employees think of as ‘appreciation’ is very different. If you want to be appreciated as an employee, why not start by appreciating others and actively, consciously noticing those things in life that give you joy? At the very least, it will cheer you up. As like as not, it will rub off onto others. And since appreciation attracts appreciation, it might well bring you some of that recognition you’re looking for.
If you are a boss, bear in mind that 80% of employees say they are motivated to work harder when their boss shows appreciation – even down to thank you cards, or little treats. Thankfully, the days when everyone thought they had to be a complete ball-breaker in order to demonstrate that they had leadership potential are over, at least in the majority of companies and industries. What a relief that is!
So now, with gratitude, I am off to ponder one of those rather splendid chocolates someone gave me. She knows who she is.
