An Attitude of Gratitude
Your mindset has a significant impact on how you view the world around you. Sometimes we feel a sense of high and other times low. It is normal human behavior. Lately, I have been working hard on how I view any given situation. I try to take time to see the world around me in a positive light. One way to do this is by having an attitude of gratitude. I find that I need to step outside of myself and view my circumstances from various perspectives.
For instance, one Monday morning I was driving to work and I was in a negative spiral. I was facing back to back meetings, and a conflict I wasn’t looking forward to managing. My list of things that needed to be completed was a mile long. After my head spiraled in a negative loop for about ten minutes, I decided I was done. I reminded myself of my mindset and reset my train of thought. This time it looked more like ‘I truly have a wonderful job and some days are harder than others. I am looking forward to seeing the people I work with. They are my rock in crazy times. And of course, the kids are amazing! I am grateful for this car getting me to work on this cold morning.’ Suddenly I started seeing beauty in the many things I had to look forward to that week. I decided to put on a playlist that typically cheers me up. By the time I pulled into work, things looked brighter and I was ready to tackle my day. It wasn’t perfect, but it was much better.
There have been many studies that show a correlation between showing gratitude and people finding general satisfaction with life and happiness. In a study by psychologists Dr. Robert A. Emmons and Dr. Michael E. McCullough, participants wrote weekly sentences on specific topics. One group focused on weekly gratitudes, another on daily annoyances, and a third on neutral events. After 10 weeks, the gratitude group felt more optimistic, healthier, and even saw doctors less, unlike the group dwelling on negatives.
There are many ways that you can focus on gratitude in your daily life:
Meditation
Using meditation for gratitude involves focusing your mind on feelings of thankfulness. It's about taking time to notice and appreciate the positives in your life, big or small. During such meditation, you might concentrate on specific things you're grateful for, or simply cultivate a general state of appreciation. This practice can deepen your sense of gratitude, reduce stress, and enhance overall well-being by connecting you more deeply with the present moment and the abundance in your life.
Service
Service to others involves acts of kindness and support without expecting anything in return. When linked with gratitude, serving becomes not just an act of giving but also an expression of thanks. This dual action can deepen feelings of gratitude in both the giver and receiver. Serving others can remind us of what we have to be grateful for and show us the positive impact we can have on the world. It's a powerful way to cultivate gratitude, improve emotional well-being, and strengthen community bonds.
Saying Thank You
Saying "thank you" to others can significantly shape an attitude of gratitude within you. Here’s how:
Increases Awareness: Regularly thanking others makes you more aware of the kindness you receive, big or small.
Shifts Focus: It shifts your focus from what's lacking to the abundance in your life, fostering positivity.
Strengthens Relationships: Expressing gratitude strengthens connections, making social interactions more fulfilling.
Boosts Happiness: The act of saying "thank you" can boost your mood and the mood of those around you, creating a cycle of positivity.
Encourages Reciprocity: When you express gratitude, it encourages others to do the same, spreading an atmosphere of appreciation.
In essence, the simple act of expressing thanks not only acknowledges others' contributions to your life but also reinforces your own practice of recognizing and appreciating the good around you.
Gratitude Journal
A gratitude journal is a personal record where you write down things you're thankful for regularly. It helps you focus on positive experiences and feelings, increasing your awareness of life's blessings. This practice can boost mood, improve sleep, and even strengthen relationships. By keeping such a journal, you train your mind to spot the good in your life, creating a habit of gratitude.
Last year at this time, I did a gratitude journal for a full month. By the time the month was over, I truly enjoyed looking at the list of all the things in my life. It gave me a greater sense of purpose and appreciation. I strongly encourage you to do the same. Write it down somewhere you can view it often. Find a quiet moment each day and simply generate a list of things you truly appreciate in your life. See how you feel by the end.
These are just some ways we can reflect and embrace an attitude of gratitude. It will help you rewire your brain by altering how you view circumstances in your life. Now you will still have hard moments and it is fair to sit with those emotions. Just don’t let them take permanent residence in your mind. Feel them, learn from them, grow from them, and release. Allowing gratitude to be what takes root.
