Gratitude: Not just for Thanksgiving

Here’s the scoop. If you are reading this right now, you’re one of the lucky ones.

You have a computer, a phone, internet, a warm bed, food when you’re hungry and hopefully no immediate danger to your life like much of the world right now. I get it . You have problems. You have worries and they are real. I’m not saying you have to love every part of your life, but what I am saying is you should be aware of the good that’s already present in your life.

The concept of gratitude is huge in the world of psychology and self-help right now and with good reason. Google “gratitude” and you will find a multitude of studies and articles that suggest a correlation between practicing gratitude and higher levels of resilience, happiness, and overall well-being. Yet, most of our conversations with others and ourselves are about what we are missing in our lives.

Here is 1 inquiry and 1 action item to get you in a gracious state of mind :

-We like to wait. We like to wait for that big thing to happen, that big goal to be achieved. Then we can be a grateful, right? When we wait, we miss the boat. I challenge you, what can you appreciate about your life RIGHT NOW just as it is? Even that hard thing you’re dealing with. What important lesson are you learning from it? What are you learning about yourself because of it? How can you use this lesson to impact your future in a positive way?

-We all have a least a few special people in life. The ones who do a lot for us, we can count on, inspire us, support us, or just brighten our lives a little knowing them. Here is the challenge: Tell them! Tell them now! … Yes, like right now! Don’t be stingy with your acknowledgment either. Sure, its always nice to hear that you are “really great” from someone else. Want to really blow someone’s mind? Tell them specifically why they are so great and why you appreciate them. Out with the generic compliments and in with powerful acknowledgments. There are few things more meaningful to hear than what impact you have made on someone’s life. Don’t assume people know what you think of them, they don’t! Watch the magic unfold on both ends when you do this for someone.

There really is no downside to practicing gratitude. Being aware of the good and abundance that we already have in our lives leaves less space for despair and longing.

Let me know how this goes ! Comment below or shoot me a line at : Jessica@hetheringtoncoaching.com