Attitude of Gratitude: Giving thanks is not just for the Holidays
Every year when the Holidays roll around, we’re reminded to be thankful for all we have in life. This year was no exception. However, giving thanks should not be saved or reserved for the Holidays. I challenge you to make this year different and incorporate gratitude into your daily or weekly routine - it’s easier than you think! The benefits are endless when you practice gratitude daily or as we like to call it: Have an Attitude of Gratitude.
What is an Attitude of Gratitude?
An Attitude of Gratitude is about acknowledging and recognizing the goodness in your life. You acknowledge that all things taken together, life is good and has elements that make life worth living.
Second, you recognize that the sources of this goodness lie outside yourself. This is what makes Gratitude different. You can be angry, pleased, proud, etc. with yourself, but it would be weird for you to be grateful for yourself. Thanks are directed outward with an Attitude of Gratitude. It requires you to recognize that you have been the beneficiary of someone else’s kindness and that it is possible for other forces to act towards you with beneficial, selfless motives.
An Attitude of Gratitude implies humility – a recognition that we could not be who we are or where we are in life without the contributions of others.
An Attitude of Gratitude Benefits Everyone
From research, we know that people who cultivate a daily practice of gratitude have better physical and mental health. We see an increase in happiness and decrease in symptoms of depression. Gratitude promotes better sleep (you’re focused on the goodness, not danger and threats which cause your mind to race). People who practice gratitude have stronger relationships, greater resilience, a more positive attitude, and stronger spirituality.
Gratitude also has a domino effect and increases helping behaviors. If you express gratitude to someone, they are not only more likely to help you in the future, but they are also more likely to go out and help someone else. Otherwise known as the “pay it forward” effect.
To be clear, feeling a pang of gratitude every now and then is not going to get you very far. What we’re talking about are the effects of a sustained practice of gratitude. So how can you make gratitude part of your daily life?
Hunt the Good Stuff
If we want to cultivate an Attitude of Gratitude we have to be deliberate about giving thanks and make a gratitude practice. Here are a few strategies to help you get started:
Strategy 1: Every day write about something you are grateful for and then reflect on why you are grateful for that. It seems simple but now you are noticing the every day good things, whereas before you maybe were overlooking or taking them for granted without realizing it. This can be as simple as writing on a sticky note or even doing this mentally on your drive home each day.
Strategy 2: Challenge yourself to think about something you are grateful for that came from a negative situation. Ask yourself “Was there any benefit that came from that negative experience?” This one is probably a bit harder. Noticing the good stuff is a little easier than re-framing the way we’re thinking about our struggles. Talk about the bad things by finding some good things that happened in or from the bad event.
There is no one size fits all when it comes to practicing gratitude. There are thousands of ways to practice gratitude. It is important for you to explore and develop strategies that work for you. Regardless of how you choose to practice gratitude, remember…
Gratitude is a choice. We hope you choose gratitude today and every day, because one thing is for sure: You make the world a better place and we’re thankful for you!
