The National Society of
Leadership and Success
Building leaders who make a better world
In this Issue: 

Letter From the President: 

Dear Society Member,

The holiday season is when most of us sit back and take stock of all that we’re thankful for. However, I want to take this opportunity to share with you why it’s important to have an “attitude of gratitude” year-round.

Research by Professor Robert A. Emmons, Ph.D. and studies done by the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley have shown that grateful people experience more joy, optimism, happiness and positive emotions. If those weren’t enough, they also sleep better, have stronger immune systems and lower blood pressure, are more likely to make progress towards their goals, and much more. The benefits of practicing gratitude are nearly endless, but it must be authentic.

Being grateful is much more than saying “thank you” when someone holds a door open for you or when passing a plate at family dinner. Because thanking people in these types of situations has become mindless, many people have dismissed gratitude as simple and undeserving of serious attention. Therefore, in order to reap the benefits of a grateful life, you must keep your appreciation fresh and genuine.

There are many ways to practice gratitude, including telling those in your life why you are grateful for them. However, Emmons’s research has shown that one of the most effective practices is keeping a gratitude journal. Whether once a day, or at the very minimum once a week, set aside time to identify and write down everything you are grateful for and why. Try to identify new things with each entry and be detailed. Instead of jotting down, “I am grateful for this meal,” try being more specific and say, “I am grateful my roommate made me this great dinner because he knew I had a stressful week and could use a nice home-cooked meal.”

Gratitude journaling works because it gradually adjusts the way in which we perceive situations by changing the parts we focus on. This month, I encourage you to try something new. Incorporate practicing gratitude into your routine and keep it going past the holidays and into the New Year. If you want to test your level of gratitude before starting, check out the “Monthly Motivation” section below, and remember Society members, don’t take gratitude for granted!

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and wish you a strong finish to your fall semester.

Best wishes,
Charles Knippen
President
The National Society of Leadership and Success

Success Corner: 

Jesse Eisenberg Speaker Broadcast: Inspiration for a New Generation

On November 4th, Oscar-nominated actor Jesse Eisenberg visited New Jersey City University to speak with the Society in a Live Speaker Broadcast hosted by SiriusXM “Morning Mash Up” personality, Nicole Ryan.

Jesse shared his journey from anthropology student to actor with the humor and nervous energy we come to expect from him. Society members from all over the nation loved every minute of the broadcast, as the advice he gave was not only uplifting and inspiring to the young generation of college students, it was also quite relatable. Viewers engaged on social media by sharing their favorite #JesseEisenberg quotes and one-liners.

Continue reading here.

Leadership Students Take On Hunger

On November 6th, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College’s Society chapter took on hunger and collected food items for a local charitable food distributor, MANNA Food Bank.

MANNA partners with 248 agencies in 16 counties in Western North Carolina to distribute food to the hungry. “This was a student-led initiative,” said Student Life Advisor, Tim Geib. “The leadership team of this program wanted to be of service to those in our community.”

Continue reading here.

Monthly Motivation: 

Dr. Deepak Chopra's advice on setting goals and how to figure out your path.


At the conclusion of our “Thought Leader Series” interview, Dr. Chopra answered a question from Christa Schenk, a Society member from our Odessa College chapter. Click the image above to watch.

“The secret of happiness is to count your blessings while others are adding up their troubles.”
– Unknown

“We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures”
– Thornton Wilder


Test your gratitude | 9 New Ways to Practice Gratitude


Our members are leading and inspiring individuals on their campuses and in their communities across the country every day, and we want to help tell those stories! Articles and other content for upcoming newsletters can be submitted anytime to communications@nsls.org. Please include photos from your event, and let us know what you were doing, who participated and how it impacted your members and community. So many chapters are making a difference every day. Keep up the good work!