Picture this.
It’s Monday morning.
The office hums with deadlines, coffee machines, and notifications.
In the meeting room, the first things shared?
Complaints. Problems. Frustrations.
The energy drops.
By 10:00 AM, everyone is doing the bare minimum.
The spark is gone. The ideas that could move the project forward stay locked inside.
This is how absenteeism begins: not just physical absence, but emotional and creative absence. The quiet quitting of enthusiasm. And at the root of it all? A lack of gratitude.
The Moment Gratitude Walks In
Same Monday. Same meeting. But this time, the team starts with one simple question:
“What’s one thing you’re grateful for from last week?”
At first there’s hesitation. Then someone mentions a breakthrough with a client. Another thanks a colleague for stepping in.
The room softens. Smiles spread. Laughter bubbles up. Ideas start to flow again.
Gratitude just walked into the room, and raised the vibration for everyone.
From Survival to Flow
Gratitude is not just nice manners. It’s an energetic reset.
Stress drops, focus sharpens, and creativity wakes up.
People move out of survival mode and into flow, that sweet spot where work feels lighter, solutions come naturally, and collaboration feels alive.
And when one person finds flow, it spreads. Soon the whole team is co-creating instead of competing, innovating instead of firefighting.
Safety, Trust, and Growth
Gratitude creates psychological safety. When people feel seen, they feel safe to speak up, share ideas, and even fail forward.
This is where co-leadership grows. Success stops being “mine” or “yours.”It becomes “ours.”
Gratitude also makes change easier, turning fear into curiosity and curiosity into innovation.
Simple Practices, Big Shifts
Start meetings with one thing you appreciate.
End the week by sharing your “win of the week.
Celebrate effort and learning, not just outcomes.
Reflect together on challenges and find the lesson.
These small rituals anchor gratitude into the culture and remind everyone: We are in this together.
The Ripple Effect
Gratitude is contagious. One person can shift a room.
One team can transform a culture.
When gratitude becomes the way you work, absenteeism drops, engagement rises, and innovation thrives. Because gratitude doesn’t just change what you do, it changes who you are together.
Join Me
On Thursday, September 25, 2pm. I’ll be hosting a free webinar (in Dutch) with Loopbaanlounge.nl:
“Hoe dankbaarheid je prestaties en werkgeluk versterkt.”
Sign up by emailing me at mara@maramichelspr.com or DM me on Instagram. Let’s raise the vibration of your workday together.
About Mara Michels
Mara Michels is a strategist, spiritual teacher, and empowerment coach with 28+ years of experience helping individuals and organizations grow.
With a background in law, behavioral psychology, and team management, she blends strategy, leadership, and spiritual insight to create purpose-driven cultures. Her work spans corporate, creative, and social sectors. From leading teams and developing talent programs to producing media projects and PR campaigns.
Through her signature spiritual sessions and empowerment training, Mara helps leaders and teams align strategy with soul, raise their energy, and co-create workplaces where innovation, trust, and growth thrive.
www.maramichelspr.com
