U.S. Army Soldiers eat their Thanksgiving meal on Combat Outpost Cherkatah, Khowst province, Afghanistan, Nov. 26, 2009. The Soldiers are deployed with Company D, 3rd Battalion, 509th Infantry Regiment.U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Andrew Smith

Each Thanksgiving, our Nation pauses to give thanks for all of our blessings. For most Americans, this holiday is about enjoying friends and family, celebrating, and sharing a meal together. But beyond Thanksgiving, how do we express gratitude as military leaders? We are trained to be ruthless skeptics, hunting through our daily duties in search of poor planning, flawed logic, or lack of grammatical aptitude. Often, we fail to express gratitude and recognize how fortunate we are to serve our country. As we celebrate Thanksgiving, consider expanding your gratitude by actively seeking a positive perspective. Take a look at all of the positive things in your life and make gratitude a part of your daily routine.

First, adjust your perspective towards those who follow your leadership. As an officer, you probably aren’t the primary “doer” in your organization. You may develop the plan and write the order, but somewhere at the receiving end of this process is a Soldier loading his rucksack to accomplish the mission. Your collective success or failure is fought and won by great young Americans who turn your ideas into action, risking their lives to accomplish the mission. As a leader, always keep these subordinates in mind and remember how fortunate you are to serve in your current capacity.

Tomb Sentinels from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), conduct a changing of the guard ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington National Cemetery, Va., May 5, 2017. Members of The Old Guard have guarded the Tomb every second, of every day regardless of weather conditions since April 6, 1948. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Gabriel Silva)

Taking the time to put positive actions into perspective is a challenge in our time constrained environment. Maintaining an appreciation for the good in your organization requires you to actively “hunt the good stuff.” Instead of growing frustrated with a clueless Lieutenant, be empathetic, because at one point you also lacked the experience you garnered throughout your service. Instead, be grateful you have the opportunity to shape other leaders. One technique I use to maintain an optimistic perspective is by briefly capturing these positive moments in my daily notes. I review these snapshots at the end of the day and find that it often positively impacts my mood as I close out and head home.

Cadet Alix Idrache sheds tears of joy during the U.S. Military Academy’s Class of 2016 commencement ceremony at Michie Stadium in West Point, N.Y., May 21. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Vito T. Bryant)

As leaders, it is important to make positivity and gratitude part of our daily routine. I would bet you can remember how good you felt the last time a General or senior leader gave you a compliment. Believe it or not, your words can have the same impact on junior Soldiers. Consider making it a habit to tell people when they do a good job. Want to do more? Try sending one hand-written note per week, expressing gratitude to someone who has had a positive impact in your life. Over time, these simple methods will positively impact your overall attitude and worldview. More importantly, you will influence the culture of your organization and your investment in others will pay dividends on future formations.

May 4, 2013 – Photo by Sgt. Eric-James Estrada. Paratroopers from Alpha Battery, 2nd Battalion, 377th Parachute Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Regiment, fire artillery during the commissioning ceremony for the Navy’s newest ship, the USS Anchorage at the Port of Anchorage, Alaska, May 4, 2013. The paratroopers provided a 19-gun salute with six 105mm howitzer cannons during the ceremony.

These are just a few simple tips to increase gratitude in your daily life. I hope you enjoy your Thanksgiving, from wherever you may be celebrating. Today I’m grateful for my family and the life we have together. I’m grateful to have the privilege to serve my nation and be entrusted with leading and developing others. Finally, I’m grateful to be a part of this leadership discussion conversation with you. Enjoy your day, enjoy your families, and please consider reflecting on how you express gratitude as a military leader.

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