Use Gratitude to Change Your Attitude
If the best way to make our dreams reality is to imagine them here and FEEL them as real before they actually manifest, then gratitude is the fastest path to travel.
Gratitude is a way of bringing positive feelings to the MOMENT, no matter what is going on in your life. Did your boss yell at you? You can be grateful you still have a job. Your children aggravated you? You can be grateful they go to bed before you and you can decompress and let go of the stress with a good book.
There’s always something you can be grateful for, even in the worst situations. When I went through cancer, I was grateful for my family and community who provided so much support. After every chemotherapy session, I was grateful my partner prepared our home so I could rest and we could keep the rest of the family safe from the toxins.
Science has even shown that gratitude can reshape the brain. I’ve been practicing gratitude for years now, and I believe it keeps the negative thoughts at bay. Or at least limits them to many fewer than I used to have!
Consider developing a gratitude practice. Here are a few ideas:
- Every evening, before bed, write a list of 10 things you’re grateful for (or 3, or 1! Start wherever you can)
- Find some friends to exchange gratitude lists with each week, or more often
- During a family dinner, have each family member share something they’re grateful for
- Carry a gratitude journal with you and jot down items whenever you think of them
There are a lot of ways to integrate gratitude into your life.
How do you practice gratitude?
Resources
The Happiness Lab, on gratitude:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bonus-grateful-expectations/id1474245040?i=1000462323658
Gratitude book lists:
https://positivepsychology.com/gratitude-books-oliver-sachs/
https://www.mydomaine.com/best-gratitude-books-4770360
