Thanksgiving Gratitude & Athletic Performance

Thanksgiving is a special holiday here at Big Wheel Coaching as it is an annual reminder to be grateful for all the blessings in our lives.

But did you know that having an “attitude of gratitude” can positively influence your sporting performance?
In fact, it can!

More and more research is emerging that giving thanks not only allows Athletes to achieve their best performances, but that it can help them reduce stress, maintain focus, and minimize routine aches and pains.
 
These reasons, and more, are why Professional and Olympic-caliber teams are working to develop an “attitude of gratitude” in their organizations.
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One simple strategy these Professional Athletes are doing that each of us can incorporate into our daily or weekly routine is keeping a “gratitude journal”.
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A gratitude-journal is simply a listing of the things, big or small, that you are thankful for.

Who says a gratitude journal has to be small? Just like your goals, write what you are thankful for big and bold, then put it out where you can see it! Photo Credit: Sean Rooks, The Energy Lab

As an example here are three things that top our BWC Gratitude Journal for Thanksgiving 2018:

#1: We are thankful for the opportunity to work with passionate men and women that are striving to achieve challenging goals, everyday.

#2: We are grateful that so many of our Athletes are inspirational to us as Coaches. We are inspired by their work ethic, discipline, time-management, and enthusiasm.

#3: We are very appreciative for all the “hand-me-downs”, parenting advice, and support we have received from so many generous people since we welcomed our son, Baby Seamus into the world almost five months ago.

Can you think of three things you are thankful for this Thanksgiving weekend?

In closing, here is a great quote that captures the idea of how an attitude of gratitude can positively influence performance:

"Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation." -Brian Tracy, Author/Speaker

We hope this holiday season finds you feeling thankful for the blessings in your life and that cultivating an attitude of gratitude can help you achieve all your goals!

Happy Thanksgiving from Big Wheel Coaching!

#TrainYourPotential
Until Next Time, Be Safe, Train Hard, & Have Fun!

-Brian and Joy McCulloch
Big Wheel Coaching