Gratitude Part 1: The Power of Being Grateful

Gratitude turns what we have into enough. -Aesop

Hi, friends! In my first self-care series, we focused on self-talk and how that is the quickest route to self-care. In this series, I want to explore something that is so extremely powerful, something that can have a positive effect on us in many ways: gratitude.

Did you know…
You can “rewire” your brain to be happy by simply recalling three things you’re grateful for every day for 21 days. That truly IS powerful!

What other powers does it have?

Gratitude:
Helps strengthen relationships
Boosts happiness
Fosters wellness – you will experience better sleep and more energy
Lowers stress levels
Slows down (or stops altogether) the use of negative words
Helps us shift our thoughts

So, let’s start by asking: What exactly is gratitude?

We hear the word, we see the word, we “know” the word, but what does it REALLY mean? A lot of people associate gratitude with simply saying “thank you,” which in all honesty it can be, but it actually goes a lot further than that.  Gratitude is a deep appreciation, one that can generate lasting happiness and positivity, and it starts with noticing the goodness in one’s life.

How can we foster an “attitude of gratitude?”

Make note of the big and little joys of daily life.  You can do this at the end of the day by writing in a journal.  You can even do this throughout the day in the “notes” on your phone.  This practice should be what works best for YOU, but the goal is to notice all the goodness you have and be grateful.

Practice the “Three Good Things” rule. Identify three things that have gone well for you and identify the cause.  Write these down so that you can refer back to them when you need a gentle reminder. Or think of three things that make/made you smile each day – this goes with the above point.

Turn downtime into gratitude time.  Waiting for your coffee to get done?  Take five seconds to be grateful.  Brushing your teeth?  Think of something you are grateful for.  Stuck on hold on the phone? Show gratitude for the joys in your life. There are so many opportunities throughout the day to stop, experience gratitude, and express it.

Write thank you notes to others.  One way to feel grateful is to express our gratitude.  It is a calming practice to appreciate and show gratitude for the things others do for us.  From the big things to the day-to-day, when we notice and make it known we are putting a little more feel-good into our life and the world.  The more we express our heartfelt thanks, the more we appreciate and become grateful for each other.

Seek inspiration from others.  Think about people who have inspired you or have made your life better.

Engage in “mental subtraction.”  Imagine what your life would be like if some positive event had not occurred.  This might seem contradictory to gratitude, and in fact, it might be difficult to think about our lives without a certain relationship or experience. However, what this does is gives us the ability to truly appreciate our current reality and see how good it is.

You can focus on one, two, or all of these practices, and there is no right or wrong way to welcome gratitude into your life. The most important thing is that we start to see how truly fulfilling our lives really are. Your mind, your body, and your soul will thank YOU for it.