Gratitude (noun): The quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.

The oxford dictionary defines the word “grateful” as “showing an of appreciation of kindness.” That definition is where the differentiation between being grateful and thankful lies. Being thankful implies a feeling while being grateful is an action. 

You’ve been saying “thank you” since you learned how to talk, most likely under the instruction of your parents or teachers. It’s the polite thing to do-but what if I told you that being polite is the bare minimum?

What if I challenged you to be grateful on the 364 days of the year that aren’t Thanksgiving?

What if…

I told you that being grateful is less about everything being perfect and more about YOU being present to notice the things that are beautiful around you? 

And let me be clear, this isn’t a cross stitched pillow message in your grandmas house telling you to “Be Grateful” because it’s the “nice thing to do”. The truth is that gratitude is a powerful tool in a negative world. When we are capable of finding the people and things around us that we can be grateful for, we are able to then live happier lives both in the short and long term.

Studies on Gratitude

Psychologically speaking, gratitude is commonly associated with greater happiness. This is because when you are intentionally practicing gratitude you are choosing to focus on the positive aspects of your day to day in a conscious manner. It allows us to relish the positive moments in our days and work through adversity with a clearer mind.

A study was done in 2017 that split participants into two groups with different sets of instructions. One group was instructed to write down things they found throughout their days to be grateful for while the other was asked to write down what they found to be negative during their days. After just 10 weeks the positive group was found to have had fewer doctors visits, exercise more consistently, and generally happier. 

Managers who were instructed to thank their employees frequently found that over time their employees performed at a higher level with more motivation than before.

Couples that consistently showed gratitude towards each other for the things done in the relationship have been found to have more productive disagreements and and less at that.

Through gratitude it isn’t just your life that improves, but the lives of those you spend your days with as well. When you choose to practice gratitude you are centering your life around the things you have found to be good-the benefits therefor stem from the mindset.

How Can You Practice Gratitude

Keep a Gratitude Journal: It can be as simple as a designated note on your phone or doodles on a spare sheet of paper. It doesn’t matter where you write down the things you’re grateful for, what matters is that you’re seeking them out. Start with three things everyday and try to make them different. Through doing this consistently, you are training your brain to subconsciously seek the good things around you. 

Be Present: You have to look around you to see both the good and bad. A lot of times the bad things are easier to spot as they seem to intrude on us when we don’t want or didn’t ask for them. That being said, if you want to find the beautiful things in this life, you have to not only want to find them, but immerse yourself in the present in order to do so. 

Limit Your Complaining: Complaining is a habit, and that means you can break it. Intentionally replace your negative comments with either positive ones, or maybe just don’t say anything at all. You’re allowed to be annoyed or angry about things, but those moments steal our lives when we make them the focus of our days. Practice stating the positive things you see rather than the negative.

Thank Someone: Odds are, every person who has impacted your life for the better doesn’t know they helped you. A tangible and powerful way to practice gratitude, is making your gratitude for the people in your life known to them. When they cross your mind, even if you haven’t spoken in a while, you can reach out-yes, out of the blue! Maybe your message will save them from a bad day or encourage them onward, you never know if you don’t try. 

At the end of the day, If you are unable to be grateful for at least one thing everyday, odds are that you aren’t looking hard enough. It can be that cold glass of water after a workout you got to guzzle down or the sheets you woke up lying under. The positive things in life aren’t always massive or monumental, most commonly, the beauty is in the details, so if you struggle with gratitude, try looking a little closer. 

Through making gratitude a daily practice your relationships, work life, and well being will improve.

I hope you look for the small and big things to be grateful for. 

Lead Well,