The practise 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: colourful 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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