The Inside Job

Why You Should Be Grateful for $4 Gas

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July 22, 2008 RSS Feed Print
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I recently interviewed Jon Gordon, author of The No Complaining Rule: Positive Ways to Deal With Negativity at Work, while he was in the middle of a long drive with his family. Believe it or not, Gordon could actually bring himself to be grateful for the price he was paying at the pump. That kind of gratitude can pay off for us in the workplace, Gordon says. (Much more on this next week, especially on how older workers who can't afford to retire can avoid negativity and complaining.)

Gordon's thoughts on gratitude:

It's everything. I think it really is everything. And all the research on gratitude is so powerful. You see that you can't be stressed and thankful at the same time. It's the way our brains and bodies are wired. So you focus on gratitude and you won't be stressed. It's the best stress reducer....

OK, you're paying $4 a gallon for gas, and I'm as upset as anybody. But you can say: We're not paying $8 a gallon. And we live in a free country. We live with so many amenities. We live with so many free things that we can enjoy.... Instead of focusing on that complaint, you can now be grateful for what you have. And which emotion's going to uplift you? Gratitude. Which one's going to enhance your longevity? Gratitude. Which one will strengthen your immune system? Gratitude.

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I had been out of work for over two months so times have been on the hard side for us. Fortunately, I was able to find a job with my old company. OK, I'm now a recruiter, no longer an engineer and the job is only part time. On the other hand, I had saved money and prepared for a rainy day. Guess what? It rained! If you want a guarantee in life, there it is. Life is hard and things can always get worse. (By the way, when I’m recruiting, no one with an attitude problem gets referred for the job.)

You won’t find me complaining but you will find me working at problems. While I was off work, I took on several projects around the house and thereby saved something on the order of $5,000. I spent lots of time with my family and new grandson. I volunteered at church and took a group of 11 year old boys to camp for a week. I did not have time to whine or complain.

I bought many gallons of gasoline at almost $4 per gallon. I didn’t enjoy paying $60 for a fill-up any more than I enjoyed paying $30. But, I was able to buy all the gas I needed and only had to wait in line when I found the cheaper priced gas. Not once did I see a sign that said that there was no gas to be had. Who ever said you were supposed to enjoy buying gasoline, anyway?

I started driving my paid-for, 100K mile cars a little slower because they burn less gas that way. I also saved some of that money mentioned above by doing some maintenance work on the cars. I tell you, nothing rides nicer than a paid-for car with a new set of shock absorbers!

As you may have surmised by now, I have no patience with whining or complaining. I suggest that you put your energy to work solving your problems instead of complaining about things over which you have no control. Most folks have had to work very hard to get anywhere in life.

Parting shot: By now there are some people who are really angry at me for having such a blatantly tough, optimistic attitude. I'm not that mean and I do feel a little sorry for you. I think it’s terrible that nobody ever taught you that sometimes things get tough. That’s when you get tougher! Now, here is your opportunity to quit feeling sorry for yourself and learn that the difference between success and failure is effort. That is something else to be grateful for.

Jon Gordon, you are right on target and I will buy your book. Ms. Wolgemuth, thank you for sharing this story.

Mark of TX 1:55AM July 24, 2008

I do not enjoy paying $4/gallon. I do not expect Washington to solve market problems, but I do expect them to reasonably level the playing feel so that with good ethics, ambition and effort I can come from a poor family and achieve a high standard of living, without the government on my back. I have lived/traveled on three other continents and numerous countries while in the military and never saw freedom and opportunity like we have here. Now we must all work to preserve our economic and energy independence which is the greatest challenge to our freedom. $700 Billion and counting going to foreign energy suppliers will enslave us faster than any terrorist.

of NY 1:58PM July 23, 2008

I'm all for gratitude and a stronger immune system as a result.

But only the people (such as author above) who do not have to go into debt to drive to their working-class jobs can be so cavalier about applying the concpet to gas prices.

Daniel David of NM 10:43AM July 23, 2008

The Inside Job

You're taking a break from your job-hunting and job-hopping ways and have decided to stay put in your current position. Liz Wolgemuth’s careers blog will show you how to make the very best of your job, each day.

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