Gratitude & Gratefulness

1. © 2008 DW GROUP, LLC
Modern Stress: Mostly Mental or
Emotional
PERPECTIVE IS KEY

2. © 2008 DW GROUP, LLC
Stress Busting Keys
Practice Gratitude-We always have
something to be grateful for
Put yourself in the other person’s
shoes
BREATHE

3. ®
© 2008 DW GROUP, LLC
Anatomy of Stress
Thoughts and emotions produce physical
responses that prepare us for “Fight or
Flight”
The body responds to MENTAL stress
exactly like it responds to LIFE-
THREATENING PHYSICAL danger or
stress.
The body doesn't know the differenceThe body doesn't know the difference!!

4. © 2008 DW GROUP, LLC
LISA'S STORY
"Automatic" Mind-Body
Response
Waiting for parking space
Other driver "steals" the spot
Lisa reacts "automatically" – she gets furious:
– Pounds the steering wheel, curses
– Starts Mind-Body Imbalance
– Heart starts racing, breathing gets fast and shallow
– She's not even aware of physical changes
Result:
– Negative attitude takes over
– Powerful hormones flood her body
– She finds another parking spot and has an unpleasant
shopping experience
– Damaging chemicals keep circulating for several hours
affecting her health

5. © 2008 DW GROUP, LLC
LISA'S "AWARE"
STORY
After DW "AAA" Program
Leaving her Chiropractor, Lisa:
– Had to wait 15 minutes for parking attendant
– Old response would have been Anger Reflex
AwarenessAwareness
Attitude
Attitude
Action
Action
New Response:New Response:
AWARENESS
• She identified a Physical Stress Response beginning
ATTITUDE
• When attendant returned, she apologized and explained why she
was late
• Lisa adjusted her ATTITUDE and put herself in the girl's shoes
and felt sympathy – what a tough job – she could only get away
for 15 minutes to eat something!
ACTION
• Lisa smiled at the girl and said "no problem"
• The attendant smiled back and thanked her
Result:
– Lisa felt good about being nice
– She had made herself and another person happy
– She avoided the negative mental and physical impact of stress

6. © 2008 DW GROUP, LLC
Finding things to be grateful for even when
its’s a struggle…
While I was on a conference call with a
client once, one of the clients’ team
member named Nancy, locked herself out
of her car in the snow. As she was
stressing and then getting her husband on
the phone to bring another set of keys we
discussed the situation with a bit of
humor….
-Alton

7. ®
© 2008 DW GROUP, LLC
Story of Nancy’s Lock-Out…
Thankful I have a car to be locked out of…
Thankful I have a job with responsibility to be a
little stressed about…
Thankful I have a husband to bring me extra
keys….and maybe a hug
Thankful I know it will all work out and this is a
minor inconvenience in the grand scheme of things
that I won’t even be worried about in an hour…so
why get stressed?
“Keys” to Gratitude

8. © 2008 DW GROUP, LLC
Perspective
I don’t have a story so much as a work pattern.
One of my favorite words is perspective. If you are
in the middle of a big project or you feel you are
reaching your point of no return, take a minute to
really think about things… is what you are doing
worth the amount of stress you are putting on
yourself.
-Anonymous
Face it… it’s not life threatening - so
relax and breathe … and keep that
perspective check in place at all times. It
will help.

9. ®
© 2008 DW GROUP, LLC
Insanity is doing the same
thing over and over and
expecting a different
outcome. - Chinese Proverb
You can't reduce the stress in
your life . . .
Until you really want to!

10. ®
© 2008 DW GROUP, LLC
"Life is about 20% what happens to us and
80% the way we respond to the events."
- Ted Engstrom
Let's Choose to Beat Stress …
Remember . . .