“That’s gratitude for you!”
Do you remember hearing that old saying? An acerbic retort generally directed at someone who wasn’t grateful at all for something they received, especially if it was from you! If someone didn’t appreciate a kindness or gift you’d given them, you probably never wanted to help that person again, right? That’s human nature. But on the flipside, how good does it feel to receive an expression of genuine gratitude, even if it’s just a simple thank you? It feels great! So why don’t we express gratitude more often?
We’re told we should all be grateful for what we have, what we’re given, and not focus on the things we don’t have. You may be satisfied with things the way they are, but never stopped to think much about how you arrived at this plateau of satisfaction. Or, you may feel depressed and miserable about the state of your life, lamenting in your perceived ‘bad luck’, not thinking or believing it was your fault or that you could change the situation in any way.
In Tony Robbins’ Notes From a Friend, he talks about helping a friend who felt he’d lost everything and that his life was over. So Tony asked him, “what are you happy about?” Now, this person could not even imagine being happy again, and answered, “nothing”. Then Tony asked, “what could you be happy about, if you wanted to be?”. After framing the question that way, the man stopped to think for a moment, and answered, “I’m really happy about my wife, because she’s doing really well right now and our relationship is really close.” Asked to make a few more statements about what “could” make him feel happy, proud, excited, grateful; and how it felt when he thought about those things, the man went from feeling complete defeat to exuberant excitement about moving forward. He just hadn’t been able to see the path forward until he asked himself the right questions.
Whether happy or sad, the creative person nearly always expresses their feelings through some type of creative outlet. One of the easiest ways to do that is to write, and you don’t have to be an author or literary genius. What you write is just between you and the page, not for public consumption. It’s totally about you, and for you, to help you feel better. And that’s the whole point.
Many mental health professionals, as well as many wellness blogs and magazines agree that focusing on gratitude is a growing trend. Studies support the findings that lower stress, better sleep patterns and improved personal relationships can result from taking time to be grateful; to give thanks and count your blessings. A California research professor found evidence that keeping a gratitude journal helped lower depression symptoms and risk of heart disease for some individuals.
It doesn’t have to be the big things. Being grateful for something small can have a huge impact on your feelings. For example: “I’m grateful that the sun is out today.” A Yale University Professor teaches a course on “well-being and happiness science”, and reminds us that “gratitude is free”. Whether it’s using a specially purchased gratitude journal, an app, or even a piece of lined note paper, these can be tangible products that encourage and remind us to capture a moment of gratitude. Making a gratitude list, perhaps jotting even three things each morning can have powerful benefits. Read your list aloud after a month or so; you may be surprised at the progress you’ve made and the improvement in your well-being.
Gratitude is a very rich, but complex emotion. Gratitude can be transformational. Gratitude may lead to better health. Gratitude can foster awareness and bring joy. Gratitude can give us hope even when things around us are in chaos. Now, that’s gratitude for you!
So grab up an attractive, quality journal or notebook. Shop around and test out different pens until you find one that feels great in your hand and the ink flows effortlessly from. You’ll feel instantly more creative and more inspired to begin writing all the things you’re grateful for. There are some great workbook-style journals to help you get started. Be creative! Be grateful! Be Well.
