I have long suspected the connection between happiness and gratitude, so six months since I started writing my own daily gratitude's and three months since I set up Six Degrees of Inspiration, a Facebook group where the members can post the six things they're grateful for, I have now found this superb piece of research which completely corresponds with what I think and feel about being grateful;

Dr. Robert Emmons of the University of California at Davis has been studying gratitude for almost ten years and is considered by many to be the world's leading authority on gratitude. He's the author of the book, "Thanks!: How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier".

The information in this book is based on research involving thousands of people conducted by a number of different researchers around the world. One of the things these studies show is that practicing gratitude can increase happiness levels by around 25%. This is significant, among other things, because just as there's a certain weight that feels natural to your body and which your body strives to maintain, your basic level of happiness is set at a predetermined point.

If something bad happens to you during the day, your happiness can drop momentarily, but then it returns to its natural set-point. Likewise, if something positive happens to you, your level of happiness rises, and then it returns once again to your "happiness set-point". A practice of gratitude raises your "happiness set-point" so you can remain at a higher level of happiness regardless of outside circumstances.

In addition, Dr. Emmons' research shows that those who practice gratitude tend to be more creative, bounce back more quickly from adversity, have a stronger immune system, and have stronger social relationships than those who don't practice gratitude. He further points out that "To say we feel grateful is not to say that everything in our lives is necessarily great. It just means we are aware of our blessings."

Now if this is the impact of how being grateful can positively affect your life, then it also stands to reason that if you have suffered a significant life change, are unemployed or just been made unemployed being grateful for what you have will help you to bounce back, and that in itself will make you feel less desperate and mean that you will be better able to secure a good job, or even your perfect job quicker than those who are not grateful. So, smile and be grateful for all you have!

As an employee being made redundant is an extremely stressful time; and being made redundant in the current economic climate can make it seem impossible for you to get another job!

Employers and individuals can choose coaching to help people come to term with their redundancy and to explore their options with sensitivity. We also offer voluntary or compulsory Career coaching to companies or individuals facing redundancy. Lewis Reid has significant experience in providing outplacement services in a wide range of companies and sectors. This can include coaching to support people to make decisions about suitable future careers or to support them through the process of leaving in cases where they may face a range of feelings including anger and despair. We can also provide practical help such as C.V. writing, interview practice, interpersonal and networking skills.

Whether you are an employee or employer check out our service pages to see how we can help you!

Last week I finally created the Facebook group 'Six Degrees of Inspiration', an extension of my daily Facebook postings of the '5 thing's I am grateful for' which I had been posting on my main Facebook page for several months now, and which, according to the comments and feedback I got to these postings, people enjoyed reading and even, in some cases felt inspired to start writing their own '5 things they're grateful for'.

The purpose of the group to remind us that we each have much to be grateful for. The group and it's postings serve as a record and reminder of everything that we each have to be grateful for.

The name, 'Six Degrees of Inspiration', was conceived on the basis that you don't have to be a direct connection of mine to be affected by the posts you read in the group. My dream is to cause 'the butterfly effect' where the ripples of our thoughts, words and inspiration move and inspire many others to DO more and Be more and to be grateful for what they have and acknowledge it daily!

I had always wanted to keep a journal to write down the things I'm grateful for but have never been overly fond of pieces of paper and pens (I always lost the pen and wondered where I was supposed to put the journals once I'd written them?), I always felt much more comfortable writing things on the computer, some would say this wasn't ideal and I have been guilty of telling myself I wasn't doing it right because I didn't have a beautifully bound book which I carried around with me (I understand that we engage our subconscious mind and there is a deeper connection when we write things by hand ....). But now, rather than worry about it being right or wrong, I feel it's just important to START!

Group members are free to post daily, weekly, monthly or not at all. They can use it as a journal, a friend and meeting place or a resource to support and remind us of what we have. If you would like to contribute with your 'Things I'm grateful for' or would just like to read mine or other people's postings please visit, join and invite your friends to join our Six Degrees of Inspiration group on Facebook.

Watch out for the Six Degrees of Inspiration website and other products coming SOON!

My husband and I just watched Invictus in which Morgan Freeman plays Nelson Mandela, as the film progressed it got me to thinking who I'd like to play ME if there was ever a story about my life. So I asked my husband who he'd like to play him, he thought Forest Whittaker would do him justice, and I got to thinking who I'd like to play me?

Although there is a temptation to think of the most beautiful women in Hollywood to play me, think Angela Bassett, Nia Long, Halle Berry etc etc but I thought I'd like someone to play me who also has depth as a person, someone who would really understand me and also be somebody I admired. So for me I think Viola Davis (The Help) would do me justice. I loved her quote to when she was interviewed on Oprah where she said, "They say the two most important days in a person's life were the day you were born and the day you discover why you were born.”

I truly KNOW why I was born and I love the fact that I get to do that every day of my life. I think my last breath will be spent pursuing the thing I was born to do, which is; Inspire, Empower and Motivate people to live the lives they deserve!

So, I ask you, who would you like to play YOU in the movie of your life?

I have always had an interest in communications and understanding how and why conflicts arise between people so for the past 4 months I have been on a journey to learn everything I can so that I can help people to communicate effectively in their personal and work life.

In December 2011 I became certified to deliver DISC profiling and learned the impact of our personalities on our communication and how we see the world from 'who we are'. Intriguing!

I have also recently become a Licensed Motivational Maps Practitioner. Motivational Maps is a tool to help people understand what motivates them and how they can use it to create their perfect working environment.

It works on the premise that there are 9 different motivators;

Builder
The Builder is motivated by money and material satisfactions. Does this sound like you? But exactly what can we do to motivate the Builder and what demotivates him or her?

Director
The Director likes to be in control of people and resources and loves to be the one making all the decisions. But what happens when he or she doesn’t feel in control?

Creator
We all know that creative types are supposed to be volatile, but are they and what will set them off?

Defender
Do you like stability, security and safety? Is this your main motivator at work?

Searcher
Is doing meaningful work more important to you than the money? What is it you are looking for? Do you know? Does your boss know?

Spirit
So you like to plough your own furrow. Hate rules and paperwork and being bossed around!

Friend
People are your thing. You like to be part of a team and your work has to be sociable.

Expert
You love to learn. Want to be master of your trade or profession?

Star
You are good at your job and you want everyone to know about it? Be recognised for your achievements

None of these motivators are right or wrong or better than the others, they are simply just different and allow you to see where you are and possibly what needs to change to make things even better for you!

My personal motivations are;

Your primary motivator is The Creator
As a Creator, your need is for creativity. This motivation is for innovation and to be identified with
original output. In other words, you want your name on … the book, the CD, the product or even
the service.......

Your second motivator is The Searcher
As a Searcher, your need is for meaning. The search for meaning suggests that what you want to
do is or are things which are valuable for their own sake.......

Your third motivator is The Spirit
As a Spirit, your need is for freedom or autonomy. This means you seek to be independent and
able to make key decisions for yourself. Restrictions and procedures irritate you.
Micro-management seriously de-motivates you; having authority to proceed how you think best highly
motivates you. You hate bureaucracy and boxes, and usually work best on your own.......

This is entirely accurate, at present I am creating and delivering bespoke workshops on Employability and also Communications/Empowerment for a number of clients so that fits in with my Creator streak, I am driven by my love of making new materials, or even creating my own original Christmas Cards.

I set up my business, Lewis-Reid to 'make a difference in peoples lives' which, 3 years on is still very much the case. I love the ability to find meaning and add value to peoples lives so that addresses the Searcher in me.

When I worked in my last employed role, my manager had no idea how to get the best out of me, I was barely motivated to get out of bed (and actually some days I didn't), the bureaucracy of working in Further Education drove me insane. I wanted to be the captain of my own ship, to make my own decisions, to have the freedom to think for myself. Working for myself allows me to pander to my Spirit!

So, what motivates YOU. Would you like to receive your 10 page Motivational Maps report? Let me know!

I must thank a few people for making this website happen.... firstly is my name sake Mr Reid, my lovely husband Rickardo for organising some of the finer layout aspects and my first class proof reader, so if there are any errors, it's his fault. LOL

I'd also like to thank a wonderful photographer called Lauren Baker (http://laurenbythesea.com) who took some really artistic and inspired pictures at the Coaches Networking Convention in November 2011 and gave me permission to use them. Lauren, your talent is awesome, you are a STAR!!!