The Practice of Gratitude
Gratitude is powerful and can be described as the “appreciation of what is valuable and meaningful to oneself; it is a general state of thankfulness and/or appreciation”(1). As we face challenges in our life, it’s incredibly easy to forget how amazing it is to be alive. When we focus on what is going well in our life, we can shift our attention to the positive things. Sure, there will be negative things going on, and we can learn to accept and change what we can. However, it’s important to also appreciate what is going right.
You are breathing. You are reading. You are alive. Yes, life can be filled with unpleasant things and it can be filled with amazing things.
When we hold gratitude in our hearts, it can actually make us healthier. As a matter of fact, studies show that being in a state of gratitude is associated with a sense of overall well-being.
Here are some exercises that can help you practice gratitude:
Journal about things you can be grateful for
Think about someone you are grateful for
Write or send a letter to someone to express your gratitude for them
Meditate on gratitude
At the end of each day, were down three things you are grateful for (aka “Count Your Blessings” exercise)
Get into the habit of saying “thank you” in a meaningful and sincere way
Get into the practice of writing thank you notes
If you have a spiritual practice, pray about your gratitude
Do you have a gratitude practice? What can you be grateful for today?
Reference:
Blog Photo by Marcus Wöckel from Pexels