Gratitude Expert Lisa Ryan Featured in NY Times Best-Selling Author Harvey Mackay’s Weekly Column

CLEVELAND - July 9, 2013 - PRLog -- Author and Motivational Speaker Lisa Ryan was featured in nationally-syndicated columnist and best-selling author Harvey Mackay’s weekly article that runs in business journals across the country. The column, titled Gratitude has its Own Rewards, shares Mackay’s thoughts on the power of gratitude, the subject of Ryan’s new book.

In her book, The Upside of Down Times: Discovering the Power of Gratitude, Ryan quoted Mackay. She said, “Shortly after my book was published, I had the opportunity to meet Harvey Mackay at a networking event for speakers. And, since I’d quoted him in my book, I gave him a signed copy – which he graciously accepted. I thought that would be the end of it.”  

Ryan was surprised when she received a personal call from Mackay recently. He called to say he had read her book and asked for permission to quote her in his column. He said, “Lisa, you have expressed the importance of embracing gratitude better than anyone I’ve ever known.” Ryan said she was excited to have written a book that had such a tremendous impact on a man whom she has admired for so many years.

Mackay said, “One of the points that really struck me in [Lisa’s] book is how people respond to receiving a ‘Thank you.’ Today, people tend to say, ‘It’s no problem’ … ‘It’s nothing’ … ‘Don’t worry about it.’ Ryan likens that to throwing back a gift. She recommends a simple, ‘You’re welcome.’”

The Upside of Down Times: Discovering the Power of Gratitude, is designed to encourage individuals to improve their lives through a more consistent practice of gratitude. Ryan says, “Gratitude is not a now-and-then thing.  We need a consistent practice of acknowledgement to keep our appreciation muscles strong. I recommend keeping a gratitude journal, sending thank-you notes and cards, and consistently acknowledging and appreciating the people who make a difference in our lives.”

Ryan added, “Because the mind cannot experience two opposite emotions at the same time, it’s important that we keep ourselves in a state of gratitude as much as possible. The next time you are having a bad day, stop and think about something that you’re grateful for and you will start to move into a happier place.”

Ryan promotes a “gratitude movement” … moving away from feelings of entitlement and dissatisfaction to embracing attitudes of a greater appreciation for life. She uses documented research to support her programs to illustrate that practicing gratitude transforms lives.