The practice
of gratitude as a tool for happiness has been in the mainstream for years.
Long-term studies support gratitude’s effectiveness, suggesting that a
positive, appreciative attitude contributes to greater success in work, greater
health, peak performance in sports and business, a higher sense of well-being,
and a faster rate of recovery from surgery.
But while we
may acknowledge gratitude’s many benefits, it still can be difficult to
sustain. So many of us are trained to notice what is broken, undone or lacking
in our lives. And for gratitude to meet its full healing potential in our
lives, it needs to become more than just a Thanksgiving word. We have to learn
a new way of looking at things, a new habit. And that can take some time.
That’s why practicing
gratitude makes so much sense. When we practice giving thanks for all we have,
instead of complaining about what we lack, we give ourselves the chance to see
all of life as an opportunity and a blessing.
Remember that
gratitude isn’t a blindly optimistic approach in which the bad things in life
are whitewashed or ignored. It’s more a matter of where we put our focus and
attention. Pain and injustice exist in this world, but when we focus on the gifts
of life, we gain a feeling of well-being. Gratitude balances us and gives us
hope.
There are
many things to be grateful for: colorful autumn leaves, legs that work, friends
who listen and really hear, chocolate, fresh eggs, warm jackets, tomatoes, the
ability to read, roses, our health, butterflies. What’s on your list?
Some Ways to
Practice Gratitude
• Keep a gratitude journal in which you list
things for which you are thankful. You can make daily, weekly or monthly lists.
Greater frequency may be better for creating a new habit, but just keeping that
journal where you can see it will remind you to think in a grateful way.
• Make a gratitude collage by drawing or
pasting pictures.
• Practice gratitude around the dinner table or
make it part of your nighttime routine.
• Make a game of finding the hidden blessing in
a challenging situation.
• When you feel like complaining, make a
gratitude list instead. You may be amazed by how much better you feel.
• Notice how gratitude is impacting your life.
Write about it, sing about it, express thanks for gratitude.
As you
practice, an inner shift begins to occur, and you may be delighted to discover
how content and hopeful you are feeling. That sense of fulfillment is gratitude
at work.
Author’s content used with permission, © Claire
Communications
