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.
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