Success and Gratitude
One of my favorite places to go for moments of inspiration and joy is SoulPancake. A few weeks ago I shared with you the video introduction to their “success series” where they asked people to define what they thought counted as success. Today, a follow-up video where they go a little further by asking people whether they’ve thought about who has helped them become successful. Very few, as it turns out, have. Perhaps that’s not too surprising, as many of us get so busy with work or family or moving toward whatever goal we’ve set or maybe just keeping our heads above water that we don’t take enough time to reflect.
So the first move the creators of this video make is to invite people into active reflection. That is, they invite those who were willing to not just remember someone who has helped them become successful but then to do something about it – in this case, they asked them to write a letter to say thank you.
Then they introduced what I think is a vital second step by moving from reflection to action; that is, they invited participants to call the person they wrote and share that letter. And the expression of thanks we witness in the video – which lasts all of about a minute – is joyful, moving, and life-giving.
I’ve written before on the lively and intimate connection between happiness and gratitude and the consequent power of saying thank you to those who have made a difference in our lives. What struck me in this video was that a key part of success is simply recounting the steps it took us to get to that place where we feel some measure of success and to remember how many people helped us get there. None of us made it to where we are alone, as we have all depended and counted on others. In this sense we are connected to so many others by webs of mutual help and gratitude. And as we call to mind those people who contributed to our lives and share our gratitude with them we find ourselves blessed all over again.
Further, I sometimes think we have lost that sense of connectedness not only as individuals but as a community and culture. Think of the many and varied contributors to our success and well-being – public school, roads, hospitals and healthcare, and so many other dimensions of our public life – that we too easily take for granted. There is no “self-made” man or woman – we all counted on others, individuals and whole communities, to help us along in our journey.
So if you have just four minutes – the video actually runs just 3:40! – watch SoulPancake’s “Steps to Success” and count on being inspired and moved. Then, take a moment to think of someone who has helped you get you where you are and pick up the phone to call them and thank them. You’ll be surprised how much it blesses them…and you.
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