The practice of being grateful is a tool for happiness and abundance that has been used for eons.
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;
- more success and abundance in personal life and business;
- a higher sense of well-being;
- and a faster rate of recovery from surgery
These are a few areas!!
But while we may acknowledge gratitude’s many benefits, it still can be difficult to sustain and even believe!
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, it needs to become more than just a thanks giving 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, eye sight to read this article, legs that work, friends who listen and really hear, chocolate, warm jackets, children’s curiosity, 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 night-time routine. Why not try it while you are brushing your teeth!
- 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. Try doing that with someone who is really annoying you!
- Notice how gratitude is impacting your life. Write about it, sing about it, express thanks for gratitude.
- A site I have found useful is the Gratitude Log http://www.gratitudelog.com/
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.
I tend to do mine throughout the day which has led me to be more aware of my surroundings, my behaviour, my children’s behaviour (my inner child is allowed to play now as I am not all boring and work work work!!) and have started using the Gratitude Log above.
Share your Gratitude Journey! I would love to hear about it 🙂
To Your Success
Kate
Some content in this article has been used with the permission of © Claire Communications