At the launch of BLESS Indonesia on June 3, 2025, guests shared their gratitude on the Tree of Blessings—ranging from nature and connection to hopes for the future. These messages reflect the powerful impact of gratitude, especially for leaders who want to build organizations on a strong foundation of values. We’ve gathered some of these notes as gentle reminders to bring gratitude into your day.
- Gratitude for Life and Nature
Messages like “Blessed by nature,” “Bless humanity & mother earth,” and “Blessed for breathing” highlight how our bond with nature nourishes the spirit. Research on silvotherapy shows that feeling gratitude toward nature can strengthen emotional connections and encourage prosocial behavior such as kindness and empathy (Forest Healing). For leaders, practicing gratitude for nature can be a powerful driver to protect the environment and set an inspiring example. - Gratitude for Connection and Leadership
Some wrote “Blessed to meet great leaders” and “Blessing of connecting & reconnecting with friends and old friends.” This reflects what researchers call capitalization—celebrating positive moments with others—which is proven to deepen relationships. Studies confirm that leaders who express gratitude foster workplace cultures with higher levels of happiness, respect, and engagement (PositivePsychology.com, Leadership Coaching, PositivePsychology.com). - Optimism and Hope
Notes like “Today and tomorrow will be better than yesterday,” “There’s still hope from good people,” and “Have a BLESSFUL lifetime” carry optimism. The broaden-and-build theory explains how positive emotions expand our thinking and build long-term psychological and social capacity. Leaders who nurture optimism can pass on that energy, fueling team innovation and resilience. - Gratitude Through Words and Reflection
Some messages resembled gratitude journaling, such as listing simple things to be thankful for. According to Emmons & McCullough, writing down three good things boosts happiness by more than 10% while also improving physical health and sleep (Competition and Market). Even writing once a week can help leaders become more optimistic and resilient. - Gratitude Through Empathy and Relationships
Notes like “Love and kindness for all,” “Loved by peoples,” and “All the BLESS! <3” reflect gratitude expressed with empathy, generosity, and closeness. Positive psychology research backs this up, showing that appreciation strengthens empathy and helps it spread (psychologytoday.com, PositivePsychology.com, Wikipedia). When leaders show appreciation, it multiplies throughout the team culture.
Every branch of the Tree of Blessings captured gratitude toward nature, connection, hope, and reflection. Science shows that gratitude practices can:
- Increase optimism and happiness
- Reduce stress and improve physical health and sleep
- Strengthen relationships and build supportive team culture
For leaders, weaving gratitude into daily life—whether through short messages, journaling, or simply thanking someone—carries real impact. Start small: write down one thing you’re grateful for in the morning, thank one person each day, or record a note of gratitude for nature.
