7 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GRATITUDE

I really can’t say enough about the value of a gratitude list.  But I can also say that many people find it enormously difficult to think of things to be happy about when they’re frustrated, overwhelmed, or sad.  So let’s take a moment to dispel some common myths about gratitude. 

1.)  It doesn’t have to be “big” to be valuable.  When we’re in a downward trajectory, the fact that we aren’t overwhelmed with tears of joy can actually make us feel *worse*.  But know this – your gratitude is JUST AS VALUABLE when it’s a conscious, reasoning response.  In other words, you don’t have to *feel* it in order to benefit.  You just have to note it.  Let go of what you think you “should” feel.  Those “shoulds” are a bad habit. 

2.) Writing it down is an “affirmation.”  When we write a word down on paper, we “make it firm.”  We also gain clarity about what we’re actually saying.  When you write “I woke up this morning,” you may not realize it in the moment, but you are writing in the past tense.  When you read over that list later on, that awareness can pop right up and bite you on the nose, prompting you to rewrite your statements in the present tense.  As small as that seems, it’s a *major* shift in consciousness, and one that you’re likely to remember thereafter. 

3.) The benefit comes later.  You may not feel significantly better thinking about your blessings right now.  That’s okay.  You are taking a single step in the right direction and the cumulative effect may take minutes, hours, or even days to override a well-practiced thought.  Remember that you don’t become a concert pianist in one lesson either. 

4.) Pay attention to your body as you write your list.  This is often the first place we notice the change.  As you think about the sunrise, notice where it is on your mental screen and then notice where you feel that in the body.  There IS an association.  It’s a question of whether you’re noticing it. 

5.) Just being grateful for the awareness that your body responds to pleasant thoughts is enough.  How magical is that? 

6.) One thought leads to another, without regard for whether it’s “positive” or “negative.”  The unconscious mind is like Siri – it does not judge.  When you deliberately shift into a new trend, it will quickly begin to carry itself without asking whether it’s a “good” trend or a “bad” one.  It will simply think you are interested in that line of inquiry and offer up more.  You get to choose.  How cool is that? 

7.) It’s OKAY to write “negative” thoughts down.  You may need to do that in order to gain some clarity about what you’d rather have and what else you already have.  If you’re upset that you overslept, go ahead and write it down.  But don’t stop there.  Ask yourself what’s valuable about that thought?  It may be that you need to schedule more sleep time and that’s a valuable awareness.  Maybe you realize that waking up late is better than not waking up at all.  Indeed, it is.  You have a new opportunity to have more thoughts.  Maybe you’re grateful that your unconscious mind decided to ignore the alarm clock because it knew you were fighting off a cold and now you won’t be sick all week.  Whatever it is, go ahead and write it down.  And then ask yourself what it is you need to know about that. 

Now bookmark this space because tomorrow I’m going to give you the GRATITUDE ON STEROIDS protocol.