The word gratitude brings up to many New Agey ideas these days. Funny how the words are highjacked in ways that often hide the deeper meaning.
Research backs up claims that having thoughts of what you are thankful for can actually change your hormonal state and make you happier and more resilient. I will hold my tongue on all the biochemistry of this because it is Thanksgiving week. This is the traditional time for Americans at least to express gratitude.
How to do this?
Gratitude to yourself – whenever you do something that makes your tomorrow a bit better, thank yourself when you notice how nice this moment is because of what you did in the past. It can be something trivial like doing the dishes before bed and then when you walk into your clean kitchen in the morning – say thank you for the effort you made last night.
Gratitude to others – Our brains are wired to notice what is wrong in the world. This is a survival thing. We can learn to also notice something now and then that is right – a kindness from another person or just that you enjoy the company of a friend.
Gratitude to some more – How you do this is up to you. If you pray to God for help when times are tough, that is who to thank. If you just notice that something, this once, turned out in a way you wanted, then you can express thanks to nature or just to the universe for supporting you this time.
Oddly, the evidence is clear that the more you consciously remember what is right in your world, the happier you will be. This helps you see possibilities and alternatives to your current situation and gives you the peace of mind to act rather than be immobilized by anxiety.
This year, we all need a break from all the uncertainties in our changing reality. For this week, take a moment or two each day to think about something that is RIGHT in your world, however trivial. This is a step toward designing the Reality you want for yourself.