MEENU DATTA

COACH & AUTHOR

Time to Feel Thankful!

Thanksgiving is officially here – a time to gather around the table, savor delicious food, and, most importantly, give thanks.

This year feels special for me as it has been one of growth, milestones, challenges, and lessons.

I’m grateful for everything this year has brought—a flourishing business with 277% increase in revenue, incredible clients, exciting opportunities, stronger new connections, meaningful travel, continuing education, co-authoring a book. and certification from a prestigious organization. And of course, I’m thankful for you, my readers, for being part of this journey.

What's with the Gratitude Buzz?

There was a time when the gratitude I felt was from a place of fear and compromise. Fear of entitlement. I did not want to be arrogant and thankless. So, I was constantly mindful of the blessings in my life. But, it felt constricting and involved settling for less than desired.

Sometimes it felt forced and dismissive of my real experiences and challenges. To top it all, it was more of a thought experience for me than an emotional experience.

Then I came across a series of studies and I found out that Gratitude is scientifically proven to reshape minds and hearts.

One such study was by Psychologists Robert Emmons and Michael McCullough highlighting the impact gratitude has on happiness.

They asked three groups of participants to keep weekly journals.

Gratitude Group jotted down what they were thankful for.
Venting Group noted their frustrations.
Neutral Group recorded events without emotional bias.

After just 10 weeks, those in the gratitude group were noticeably more optimistic and generally felt better about their lives.

There’s more. Research consistently shows that gratitude can help you weather tough times, strengthen relationships, and boost mental well-being.

I changed the narrative in my mind. Instead of being grateful, I started to feel grateful using these three key points:

Became more specific, precise and detailed why I'm grateful
Practiced it consistently starting with weekly journal in the beginning
Shared it with others which allowed vulnerability and feeling it deeply

Shifting Focus to the Internal

What I love most about working with my clients is seeing the internal shifts that drive external results. Whether it’s individuals striving to break old patterns or businesses seeking clarity in strategy, they’re showing up and doing the work.

Sure, techniques, strategies, and external consulting are necessary. But the truly profound shifts happen when you work on what's inside.

What I treasure the most is my role of a coach and the opportunity to help my clients build the resilience, wisdom, and creative problem-solving skills that empower them to tackle challenges independently in the future––not just one problem at a time, but by becoming stronger, more confident individuals overall.

This Thanksgiving, I encourage you to reflect not only on external accomplishments but also on the inner growth you’ve experienced.

Start Now––There’s No Perfect Moment

Too often, I see people holding back from starting something meaningful.

Waiting for the perfect moment
Feeling overwhelmed
Lacking resources
Doubting abilities
Procrastinating
Fear of failure
Comparing themselves to others
Perfectionism

Here’s the truth––there’s no “perfect” moment. The only mistake you can make is waiting too long to begin. The world is filled with opportunities, and gratitude can serve as your compass to guide you.

Simplify Decision-Making with the 10-10-10 Rule

For those big moments when decisions feel daunting, here’s a tool I’ve been loving for years—the 10-10-10 Rule, developed by author Suzy Welch.

Whenever you're stuck, ask yourself these three simple questions:

How will this decision feel in 10 days?
How will this decision impact me in 10 months?
What will this decision mean in 10 years?

This framework has helped me cut through the noise, enabling me to act decisively while aligning with my long-term goals. If you’re feeling stuck this Thanksgiving, give it a try!

A Thanksgiving Wish for You

As we gather this season, my wish for you is simple but sincere—take a moment to slow down and notice the abundance already present in your life. Gratitude is a powerful force, not just for improving your happiness but for amplifying the good that’s already happening around you.

I’ll leave you with this fitting quote from Melody Beattie:

“Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”

From my family to yours, I wish you a warm and happy Thanksgiving. Thank you for being a part of my year—I’m truly grateful.

Meenu