Finding time to feel and express gratitude expands your heart and boosts your energy whenever you do it! It’s an amazing alchemy. As I work on the final touches of next week’s Finding Time E-zine, I am reminded of an article from a previous e-zine where I explored the power of gratitude in our lives. Read on!
Gratitude is about how you look at your world, how you move through your days, and how you experience your moments. It is a fundamental value, and the ultimate way to make full use of your time. In “Character Strengths and Virtues” by Christopher Peterson and Martin E. P. Seligman, gratitude is defined as “an enduring thankfulness that is sustained across situations and over time.”
There are two types of gratitude, personal and transpersonal. Personal gratitude is about thankfulness towards an individual, whereas transpersonal gratitude is a constant and fundamental appreciation of the world.
It is important to experience and express appreciation to others specifically and frequently. How many times a day do you actively thank someone? And how often do you feel the energy of awe and wonder?
Try this…
As an informative exercise, jot down each time you feel grateful for anything. After 3 or 4 weeks, go over your documentation and identify patterns in your gratitude. Also document lapses. Are there days when you are so absorbed in the activities of daily living that you “forget” life’s gifts?
What does this tell you? What happens to your energy? Do you habitually see the glass as “half empty” or “half full”?
There is a simple and wonderful exercise I’ve practiced for many years. It was reinforced in the Vanguard Authentic Happiness Coaching Course I participated in several years ago.
Each night, right before sleep, list at least 3 gratitudes you are aware of for that day. These blessings can be anything you notice and appreciate.
Recently, I asked a client if she was continuing her nightly gratitudes. She vigorously nodded. “It keeps me positive,” she responded. And it does. It helps you maintain enthusiasm, even in challenging times. Soon it becomes automatic to appreciate your moments.
Ready to put your gratitude into action?
Follow through on this tip and action step:
Tip: Gratitude relaxes and energizes you.
Action Step: Cultivate a glass-half-full perspective by writing a brief note of thanks to someone who’s brightened your day. Mail it without expectation of response, and warm yourself with your own inner glow.
Exploration: By telling someone, either verbally or in writing, how much you appreciate them and their choices, you create a path for a positive connection. You let the other person know that she has been seen and that her actions are significant to you. It is particularly helpful that you validate others in concrete, specific ways. For example, you might say, “I really appreciate your suggestions for revising my project. Your feedback helped improve the outcome, and you provided ideas in such a thoughtful way.” This acknowledges both the concrete tangible and intangible contributions that the other person made.
Genuine interactions such as these create a base of positive communication on which to build an open-handed relationship.
Such validations demonstrate the sender’s lack of entitlement, which promotes harmony and good will.
Learning to feel and then express your gratitude is, indeed, a gift. Notice how much easier it is to be in the moment when you are grateful!
Please feel invited to drop me a line – I’d love to hear about what you discover as you explore gratitude!
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Let’s explore time together …
Hi Paula;
Good post and great suggestions. We just mailed off a box of magazines and books to armed forces overseas. I may not agree with war, but I love the young people who are willing to risk their lifes for us.
The grandkids wrote notes of thanks and encouragement. It will mean a lot to a homesick young kid.
Your friend,
Judy Helm Wright aka Auntie Artichoke, family relationship author and speaker
Spiritually, I think there is nothing as important as gratitude. And when it comes to expressing it to other people, it has more impact when it’s done outside of the
“expected times”, like Thanksgiving or Valentine’s Day. Then it feels like it’s really sincere rather than prompted. At least that’s my take on it.
Thank you for your comments, Judy and Helene. The importance of the attitude of gratitude just can’t be underscored enough. I appreciate your taking the time to share your thoughts and experiences with gratitude!
I recently read the opposite of depression isn’t “Yippee!” It’s gratitude. I do wish I remembered the author.
That is a wonderful insight, Kathryn – thank you for posting it. (If I come upon the author’s name, I’ll let you know!)
Thanks for a wonderful step by step post. Audrey
Hi Audrey – Thanks for stopping by. I’m delighted that you liked the post – and appreciate your taking the time to comment!
What a great post Paula. It’s so easy to slip into the focusing on what we aren’t grateful for in our lives. The reality is that we do have much to be grateful for. Thanks for the reminder and great tips to practice gratitude. It does great things for your energy.
Thanks for visiting/commenting, Paula – it’s always great to hear from you.
Nothing makes me feel better than boosting someone else up and appreciating what they do. Gratitude is like an emotional tonic.
Hi Rob – Thanks for stopping by – I love the way you describe the power of gratitude!
Paula