Who and What Are You Grateful For?

This blog is longer than usual, as I want you to really appreciate the value of gratitude and why you should develop and cultivate the habit of being grateful every day. You will see at the end of this blog that there are remarkable benefits to being grateful.
 
I have been looking back over my year, and I have realised that this year has been one of the best years I have ever experienced, and that includes all the exciting basketball years! In the past, I have enjoyed worldwide travel, playing basketball, as well as playing in front of thousands of people and live TV cameras.
 
I remember the time when we won the Playoffs while playing for Sunderland. We were the underdogs, and we beat the favourites against all the odds. We played at the Empire Pool Wembley with around 10,000 people watching, and the game was shown live on BBC TV. As you can imagine, the celebrations were wild and very exciting.
 
There were many amazing trips to Europe and America, and playing professionally was a dream come true, as was playing for England. There was a year when I broke the British record for the most points scored in a single match which still stands at 98 points.
 
 
Nothing compares to this
 
But as exciting as these times were, they weren’t as fulfilling as this year has been. I have had the privilege of changing thousands of people’s lives with powerful mental resilience techniques, and the deep joy I receive from this far outweighs the excitement of those basketball days.
 
There is something very special and unique about helping people live happier, healthier lives. Yesterday I had a coaching session with a client whose life has been completely transformed by these techniques, which now incorporate outstanding time management techniques.
 
He is now working fewer hours and achieving more. He isn’t working in the evenings or weekends, and he has time to plan and work on the important things which make a huge difference. He is now in full control of his work life and home life. And when things do go wrong, he is in a good place to handle these.
 
 
Gratitude
 
Gratitude plays a big part in my life and features prominently in my Mental Resilience program. There is real transformative power when you are grateful, and there are changes in your thinking and feelings when you are in this state.
 
As I think back over this year, I am reminded of all the people who have been instrumental in this great year. I want to take the time today to honour these people for whom I am very grateful.
 
 
Rolls Royce and other great clients
 
I have run many masterclasses from my Mind Resilience Programme for Rolls Royce, and the impact has been quite magnificent. I want to thank Steve Roebuck for all his help over the years and for his continued help as more and more teams use me to inspire and educate their staff.
 
Siemens Gamesa has used me again this year, and I have had the privilege of delivering all three Masterclasses in my programme online to staff from all over the world. The number of staff attending these online masterclasses has been astronomical, reaching up to 2,500 per masterclass.
 
On each occasion, we have run two masterclasses, one at 8am and one at 2pm, to cover the two time zones worldwide. I want to thank Elle Brown for booking me and supporting me throughout this year.  I am also grateful to Ben West, who has just booked me for Masterclass 2 for his Siemens team in Scunthorpe.
 
 
Lake District Estates
 
Lake District Estates has been a wonderful client, and I want to thank CEO David Little for engaging me as his Mental Resilience Brand Ambassador. David is a special guy, and I have delivered Masterclasses to some of his teams. I have also coached several of his key team members, and I have filmed short videos highlighting the key techniques from my sessions.
 
I want to thank him also for the brilliant accommodation I have stayed in when I travelled to the Lake District. It has made each trip seem like a luxury holiday and has allowed me time to rest and recover, which is something I advocate in my Masterclasses. I also love his brilliant sense of humour.
 
Someone who is special is Marcel Devereaux from Pilkington Glass Germany. I first met Marcel a few years ago when I presented to an international group for Pilkington Glass. We connected, and I have been to Germany 5 times to present at different events. We have become good friends during this time.
 
I also want to thank Marcel’s boss John Wilgar, Chief Procurement Officer at NSG Pilkington, who has approved the budgets for all this work and whom I am really looking forward to seeing this coming week for lunch.
 
 
Vistage
 
This year has also seen me deliver several Masterclasses to Vistage groups across the country. These have been very well received, and I have had the joy of securing extra bookings from some of the managing directors who attend these meetings.  
 
In fact, it was at a Vistage Group where I first met David Little, where he saw me speak, and then booked me to inspire his staff. I want to thank Peter Hills, the Chair of that group, for all his help over the years. It was Peter who believed in me when I first started in the business, and it was Peter who picked me up when I wanted to give up.
 
 
Springfield Training
 
Noel Johnson is the CEO of Springfield Training, a fast-growing Apprentice training agency, and is a great man. I have delivered all three Masterclasses to his staff, and we have just agreed to a booking for me to deliver to his clients to give them an experience of Masterclass 1. We had lunch this week and discussed some great plans for next year.
 
I want to thank Randy Haefner, my ex-basketball buddy, for introducing me to Sam Buxton, the CEO of Damex based in Gibraltar. Sam booked me for 3 trips to Gibraltar to deliver my masterclasses, including my new one on time management, as well as some coaching. Thank you, Sam; this was a wonderful experience, and well done on the growth of your company.
 
A special thank you to Lisa and Paul Kitchen, who founded Live and Learn Consultancy and have given me much work over the years. You helped me through my growth period, and it was great fun running many masterclasses for you over the years. The highlight this year was the booking in Milan.
 
Thank you, Jim Thomas and Jo Mousley, from the PDW Group, for all your bookings and also to Ian Williamson, the CEO of ITP Aerospace, for the booking at your conference. Thanks also to Max Eyre from Applus for the opportunity to work with your company in the UK and Dubai.
 
It is amazing how many great people I have met through this business, and thank you, Claudia Bordogna from Trent University Business School, for the opportunity to work with your postgraduate students.
 
 
Yet more
 
A very big thank you to Michael Dobson, who has been instrumental in developing my website and my marketing strategy over the past few years. You have done awesome work, buddy, and I look forward to more great work together.
 
Special thanks also go to good friends Barry and Linda Manson and Dave Clarke, who started as a coaching client and is now a good friend. Also, thank you, Stuart Ross, for all your guidance and support over the years.
 
I am very grateful to be in a position to run our Grace Foundation, which helps those in need. This gives me so much pleasure, and I believe it is one of the true ways to happiness and true fulfilment.
 
 
Australia
 
Australia was amazing. The month we spent in Brisbane was the holiday of a lifetime, and thank you, brother and sister-in-law Tony and Jenny, for making our trip awesome. The planning and organisation were amazing and went to perfection. Thank you for arranging the amazing weather and sunshine as well!!
 
A big thank you to my brother Richard and his wife Adele for the great support and friendship throughout the year. Having you in our lives has been a real blessing.
 
Finally, the biggest thank you goes to my wife, Julie, who has been a rock throughout our marriage. You have been there to pick me up over the years and to support me unwaveringly. I love our time together when we laugh, chat, have fun, and do life together, and I am blessed to have you in my life.
 
 
So many to be grateful for
 
Wow, there are so many people to be grateful for, and if I had room in this blog, I could have mentioned many, many more. They have all given me the opportunity to change people’s lives for the better, and for that, I am truly grateful.
 
There are outstanding mental and physical benefits to gratitude, and here are some to demonstrate why we should all be more grateful in our lives:
 
 
The amazing impact of gratitude
 
Gratitude is one of the key techniques I teach in my Mental Resilience Programme. It can have various positive effects on the brain and overall well-being. While the exact neurological mechanisms are still being studied, research suggests that expressing gratitude can influence the brain in the following ways:
 
Increased Activity in the Brain’s Reward Centre: When you experience gratitude, there is increased activity in the brain’s reward pathway, particularly in areas like the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and the nucleus accumbens. These regions are associated with feelings of reward and pleasure.
 
Release of Neurotransmitters: Expressing gratitude is linked to the release of certain neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and serotonin. These chemicals play a crucial role in mood regulation and contribute to a sense of well-being.
 
Changes in Brain Structure: Some studies suggest that practising gratitude may lead to structural changes in the brain. For example, a study published in the journal “Cerebral Cortex” found that individuals who engaged in regular gratitude exercises showed changes in the prefrontal cortex, a brain region involved in decision-making and emotional regulation.
 
Reduction in Stress: Gratitude practices have been associated with a reduction in stress levels. Chronic stress can have negative effects on the brain, and by promoting feelings of gratitude, individuals may experience stress reduction and improved mental health.
 
Enhanced Connectivity: Expressing gratitude may strengthen neural pathways related to empathy and social cognition. It can enhance connectivity between different brain regions, fostering a more positive and compassionate outlook.
 
Improved Sleep: Gratitude has been linked to better sleep quality. Quality sleep is essential for overall brain function and cognitive performance.
 
Altered Neurochemistry: Gratitude may influence the release of hormones like oxytocin, often referred to as the “love hormone” or “bonding hormone.” Oxytocin is associated with social bonding and positive social interactions.
 
It’s important to note that individual responses to gratitude may vary, and the research in this area is still evolving. Additionally, the benefits of gratitude may extend beyond the brain to impact overall physical and mental health.
 
Regularly practising gratitude through activities like keeping a gratitude journal or expressing thanks to others may contribute to a more positive and resilient mindset. 

 
Thoughts for the week 

1. This week, think back on your year and list all the things and people you are grateful for.
2. As you do this, you will benefit from all the areas described, including releasing dopamine and serotonin.
3. Perhaps this Christmas is a perfect time to do this as we all have spare time during this period.
4. As you dwell on these things, observe how good you feel, which is a direct result of dopamine and serotonin entering your bloodstream. Now go out and create this habit of gratitude.

 
Warm regards

John