The Power of Gratitude

And the difference it can make...

Last year, I was starting to feel “stuck” in my life, and decided to make some intentional changes in order to “unstick” myself and move forward. One of the practices I adopted was a daily gratitude journal: each morning and evening, I picked at least three things to be thankful for, and made an entry of why exactly each of those things inspired gratitude. 

What I noticed over the following weeks and months was a shift in perspective. Instead of seeing challenges and obstacles everywhere, I was starting to see opportunities and blessings. Even when things were frustrating or disappointing, there was always a silver lining, even if it was just developing more character and resilience.

“Wear gratitude like a cloak, and it will feed every corner of your life." -Rumi

In spite of, or maybe because of, the challenges we’ve faced the past few months, I’ve been realizing more and more the profound impact of gratitude. This practice has been even more important for my mental and emotional health in light of the ups and downs since March, and I believe it will be one of the key ingredients for successfully weathering what the next few weeks and months hold for all of us. 

According to Psychology Today, some of the benefits of a gratitude practice include: 

• Improving psychological health
• Improving physical health
• Enhancing empathy and reducing aggression
• Opening the door to more relationships
• Sleeping better
• Improving self-esteem
• Increasing mental strength

All of that sounds good. But how can we stay grateful in the midst of such trying times? Here are some ideas:

• Gratitude journal - each day, make note of three things you are thankful for, and why.
• Compliment - make a sincere, kind comment to someone each day.
• Smile - it can change us from the inside out.
• Express your gratitude to those around you for the things they do, or things about them that you value. (Write a note, make a phone call, or just say thank you!)
• Find opportunities to volunteer.
• Practice mindfulness - develop a regular meditation or mindfulness practice in which you slow down in silence. 
• Practice gratitude rituals, such as saying grace before a meal.
• Here are more ideas for how to make gratitude a part of your daily life. 

The truth is, none of us  know what each new day will bring in these uncertain times. But I know how I want to respond each day— I choose to move forward with gratitude.

What are you grateful for today?