Accessing the Power of Gratitude

by Helene Rennervik

For years, gratitude has been mainstream as a tool for happiness. 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 recovery rate from surgery.

While we may acknowledge gratitude's many benefits, it can still be difficult to sustain. Many of us are trained to notice what is broken, undone, or lacking in our lives. For gratitude to meet its full healing potential, it needs to become more than just a Thanksgiving word. We must learn a new way of looking at things, a new habit, and that can take some time.

That's why practising gratitude makes so much sense. When we give 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 focus our attention. Pain and injustice exist in this world, but when we focus on the gifts of life, we feel well-being. Gratitude balances us and gives us hope.

There are many things to be grateful for: colourful autumn leaves, legs that work, friends who listen and really hear, chocolate, fresh eggs, warm jackets, tomatoes, the ability to read, roses, our health, and butterflies. What's on your list?

Some Ways to Practice Gratitude

Keep a gratitude journal in which you list things you are thankful for. You can make lists daily, weekly, or monthly. While greater frequency may be better for creating a new habit, keeping the journal where you can see it will remind you to think gratefully.

• Make a gratitude collage by drawing or pasting pictures.
• Practice gratitude around the dinner table, or make it part of your nighttime routine.
• Make a game of finding the hidden blessing in a challenging situation.
• When you feel like complaining, make a gratitude list instead. You may be amazed by how much better you feel.
• Notice how gratitude is impacting your life. Write about it, sing about it, express thanks for gratitude.

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 fulfilment is gratitude at work.

Author’s content used under license, © 2011 Claire Communications