What is gratitude?
Gratitude is having appreciation for, being happy with what is in every moment. The more ‘attitude of gratitude’ you apply, the more often it occurs. How come? Thoughts are powers and energy follows attention. Sometimes it just needs (a little) practise and willingness. It might sound like a technique and it might start out as such, but on a deeper level, it actually is the development of this heart quality.
Gratitude is a decision, an action. It is a verb, just like kindness and love and it has physical, psychological, social and spiritual dimensions. All in all it is an attitude to life, it is not taking anything for granted in this ever changing life. You can be grateful for what you have, for who you are, for everything, but I for one, can also be extremely grateful that some things didn’t work out the way I once wanted them too! Gratitude is a great antidode for stress as well, since it balances your daily experiences. Even in the hardest of times, there are things to be grateful for, so, it is not about creating a ‘false positive’ so to say.
Why gratitude?
Well, gratitude has many benefits.
- It will increase your happiness, your self-esteem and overall well-being.
- It nurtures hope, optimism and resilience.
- It reduces envy, stress, anxiety and insecurities.
- It intensifies feeling of love, connection, empathy and therefore it will strengthen your relationships.
- It will boost your energy and your immune system.
- It will improve your qualitiy of sleep.
- And ultimately, because of all the above, it will increase your life-span.
How can you develop ‘the attitude of gratitude’?
- I reckon journaling is well known. You don’t have to become a writer and you don’t have to take a lot of time out of your busy days, but when you choose to step on this train of bringing more gratefulness in your life, you have several options. At the end of the day you can take a few minutes to write down what you were grateful for that day. Of course you can write down every evening that you are grateful for your life, or for the trees, but when you stick to current affairs, the effect on your happiness will be bigger. You can write in a ‘normal’ diary, but there are also interactive journals on the market to help you creatively foster gratitude in your life with questions and prompts to help you along. They are specially designed to recognize the ‘small’ blessings, which will eventually turn out to be the ‘biggies’.
- If you are an image thinker, you can also draw or photograph what you are grateful for.
- Few years ago, a couple told me that they texted each other every day with things they were grateful for. Heartwarming and what a great boost for their relationship!
- Enjoy the imperfection. In Japan this is called ‘wabi sabi’. See the beauty in what you find ugly. See the transience and the vulnerability.
- Realize that it all means nothing. Everything is neutral, you are the one who gives meaning. Nothing in your outside world needs to change for you to be happy!
- What speaks to me too is the gratitude jar. At the end of the day, you write down what you have been grateful for and put those little scraps of paper in a jar. You can do this ritual by yourself, but also (together) with your family. On New Years Eve, you open up the jar and read the scraps of gratitude. A great way, a great ritual, to close the year and opening yourself up for the next. Which is, by the way, something to be grateful for!
Myoki
