The Practice of Gratitude

Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.
— Marcus Tullius Cicero

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.

I had the blues because I had no shoes until upon the street, I met a man who had no feet.
— Denis Waitley

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:

  1. Sansone RA, Sansone LA. Gratitude and well being: the benefits of appreciation. Psychiatry (Edgmont). 2010;7(11):18–22.

Blog Photo by Marcus Wöckel from Pexels


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