It’s Thanksgiving, a time to count our many blessings. Undoubtedly, we all have a lot to be thankful for. However, many of us struggle to muster that attitude in 2020 as we have faced a global pandemic, racial injustice, and a polarizing political season. In times like this, I often reflect upon this pertinent scripture:

“Give thanks in all circumstances”

– 1 Thessalonians 5:18

That’s easy to say but hard to do. My company, CHS, just announced an annual earnings drop of 49%. This is largely attributable to the effects of the pandemic. And now it’s Thanksgiving.

Leadership attitudes in times of scarcity are tremendously important. Whether conscious or unconscious, your attitude as a leader affects your whole team.

There’s a delicate balance here. On one hand, it’s important to be positive, optimistic, and grateful, since these are the attitudes you want cascaded to your team; however, you also need to be authentic. Giving thanks in all circumstances isn’t an external façade to put on when in the public eye. That’s not the point.

Allow yourself to grieve and process disappointment

Here’s how I do it: When I’m faced with disappointment, I allow myself to get sad. I embrace the disappointment. I struggle with it. I get upset by it. I grieve through it. I talk about it in private with a few trusted confidants. Then I emerge. I come out the other side and re-home to gratitude. Only after I’ve gone through that cycle, can I authentically express gratitude in a disappointing circumstance.

I think where we get hung-up, is that we don’t allow ourselves to go through the grief cycle. If we try to maintain our positive attitude without grieving, we burn out. If we start to slide into it, but don’t fully hit bottom, then we just slide into pessimism and cynicism.

The key is to know yourself, start the cycle, and come out of the cycle as quickly as possible, but no quicker. How quickly you go through this varies from person to person and by severity of circumstance. As I’ve matured as a leader, I’ve learned this about myself, and have been more intentional about leading myself through the cycle. After all, I cannot lead people where I haven’t gone myself.

Returning to gratitude

I’ve been able to do that through the transition to the new economic realities my company is facing. Now I am able to re-home myself to gratitude.

Amidst constrained circumstances, I am grateful for my talented and driven team. I’m grateful for the leaders above me that entrusted me with additional responsibilities. I’m grateful for my company’s commitment to do what’s best for our farmer-owners long-term. I’m grateful for co-workers that support each other. I’m grateful to work for a company that has a mission worth achieving.

2020 has challenged our mental health like nothing else in recent memory. There is so much that has caused us grief. You can’t ignore it. You can’t fake it. You can’t simply rise above it. You must engage with reality, face the circumstances, then emerge on the other side.

Where do I find the strength to do that? It would be dishonest to write that I draw this from within, because I don’t. I would be dishonest to say this is simply a leadership skill because it’s deeper than that. This is spiritual. I will honestly share that my hope is found in Christ alone. My gratitude in all circumstances is inextricable from my faith.

I wish all of my readers a very happy Thanksgiving!

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