The Power of
Gratitude
Personal Deveopment
Remember that gratitude isn’t a blindly
optimistic approach in which the bad
things in life are whitewashed or ignored.
It’s more a matter of where we put our
focus and attention. Pain and injustice
exist in this world, but when we focus on
the gifts of life, we gain a feeling of wellbeing. Gratitude balances us and gives us
hope.
There are many things to be grateful for:
colorful autumn leaves, legs that work,
friends who listen and really hear,
chocolate, fresh eggs, warm jackets,
tomatoes, the ability to read, roses, our
health, butterflies. What’s on your list?
CHERYL LACEY DONOVAN
Some Ways to Practice Gratitude
• Keep a gratitude journal in which you
list things for which you are thankful. You
can make daily, weekly or monthly lists.
Greater frequency may be better for
creating a new habit, but just keeping that
journal where you can see it will remind
you to think in a grateful way.
• Make a gratitude collage by drawing or
pasting pictures.
• Practice gratitude around the dinner
table or make it part of your nighttime
routine.
• Make a game of finding the hidden
blessing in a challenging situation.
The practice of gratitude as a tool
for happiness has been in the
mainstream for years. Long-term
studies support gratitude’s
effectiveness, suggesting that a
positive, appreciative attitude
contributes to greater success in
work, greater health, peak
performance in sports and
business, a higher sense of wellbeing, and a faster rate of recovery
from surgery.
But while we may acknowledge
gratitude’s many benefits, it still
can be difficult to sustain. So many
of us are trained to notice what is
broken, undone or lacking in our
lives
And for gratitude to meet its full
healing potential in our lives, it
needs to become more than just
a Thanksgiving word. We have to
learn a new way of looking at
things, a new habit. And that can
take some time.
That’s why practicing gratitude
makes so much sense. When we
practice giving thanks for all we
have, instead of complaining
about what we lack, we give
ourselves the chance to see all of
life as an opportunity and a
blessing.
.
• When you feel like complaining, make a
gratitude list instead. You may be amazed
by how much better you feel.
• Notice how gratitude is impacting your
life. Write about it, sing about it, express
thanks for gratitude.
As you practice, an inner shift begins to
occur, and you may be delighted to
discover how content and hopeful you
are feeling. That sense of fulfillment is
gratitude at work.