Gratitude done differently: A daily conscious practice
If you look into personal development, mental health or “to be a high achiever” type recommendations – it’s likely one of their tips is to practice gratitude.
It goes a little like this… “At the end of the day, use a paper and pen to note down 3 things you are grateful for today.” And I totally recommend this! It’s a great way to positively reflect.
However, depending on what’s going on in your life, sometimes it can be hard to embody the gratitude you are noting. You might logically think I should be grateful that happened, but perhaps you don’t truly feel it.
A tip from me to you: Start practicing having awareness of how events are unfolding throughout your day, to benefit you or another.
Here’s an example: You might not get the car space you needed quickly, and then the shops close on you, you’re pissed off and go home but now you are home earlier than planned. This leads to you catching your housemate or partner just before they were going out. They have had a bad day. Although seeing you for that second, with a bit of a vent on their part, completing turned it around! Now they’re happier and you feel fulfilled. You had a nice connection, and know you helped them.
It’s these purposeful coincidences that are in fact not coincidental, but meaningful circumstances we are all connected through. It is happening constantly. Big and small. Obvious and not so obvious. And they are beautiful gifts to acknowledge as they unfold.
As humans, for survival purposes, it makes sense to be able to recognise potential threat. However our make up falls down when this manifests as a perception of constant seemingly “negative” circumstances. This practice is a way to activate and strengthen the positive pathways, to help gain perspective. You can train your brain to see all events as unfolding for a reason where something special is to come from it, even if you’re yet to find out what. With that, life becomes less stressful, and more comforting. You can go through your day with so much gratitude.
See this idea of gratitude as a daily conscious practice. It is observing all the gifts we are constantly receiving, from each other and our world.
This is a way to enhance and balance your mood, increase your tolerance to stressors and broaden your perspective. It’s a way to cultivate more mindfulness and self-awareness.
And if you like the idea of noting your gratitude, this leads you to being super aware of what you are grateful for. You are already in a state of gratitude.
I’ve personally used this to get me through the toughest days. There is always, always, something unfolding to be thankful for. You just make the decision to take on that lens and look for it.
If you are feeling resentful or frustrated, and struggling to uncover this feeling of gratitude, please reach out. I have a number of ways to help you process those emotions, and get you through to the other side.
Much love,
S x
