Accessing the Power of Gratitude

The practice of gratitude as a tool for happiness has been around 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 well-being, 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 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.

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 well-being. Gratitude balances us and gives us hope.

There are many things to be grateful for: colorful leaves, legs that work, friends who listen and really hear, chocolate, the ocean, fresh eggs, warm jackets in the chilly months, a good curry, the ability to read, family, our health, oranges, butterflies. What’s on your list?

Some Ways to Practice Gratitude

• Keep a 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 on to cardboard and then display somewhere you will see it daily.

• Practice gratitude around the dinner table or make it part of your nighttime routine, giving thanks before falling off to sleep.

• Try to find the hidden blessing in challenging situations.

• When you feel like complaining, make a gratitude list instead. You may be amazed by how much better you feel when you notice how gratitude impacts your life.

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.