Scientific Gratefulness
Thousands of articles can’t possibly be wrong. But there is still resistance to practicing gratefulness. It seems like the best things in life are really free. Too bad humans don’t always trust that anymore. The science of gratefulness is well documented. It increases resiliency, reduces stress, lowers blood pressure and increases life satisfaction. Science doesn’t lie. It is time to try to create an easy practice and see what happens. Think of it as an experiment in real time.
Early Gratefulness
Start out your day with something new. If you travel to work or school, there are many chances to find something to be grateful for. Even if it involves the perfect cup of caffeine for yourself, there is reason to be thankful. The dopamine surges at the same time as the thought. When you think about it, doctors should be prescribing this practice, even if it puts them out of business. Colleagues in every company want others to start a serious practice so that they elevate their attitude. It makes the workplace more comfortable if you don’t have to watch out for who is coming into the break room to provide a free negative description of what is wrong with life. After the first encounter, the coffee gets postponed. No one needs to be caffeine scarce and have to listen to this kind of crap.
Gratefully Connected
Humans like to enjoy close connections in relationships. Feeling grateful automatically focuses awareness on the best parts of another and increases connections. Everyone needs this boost. The inclusion of being grateful lowers the chances of falling into the habit of focusing on what went wrong. When gratefulness becomes a part of communication, it negates the kind of emotions that hurt. It is impossible to be angry and grateful at the same time. Using gratefulness increases generosity and doesn’t cost a cent. Therapists often advise that partners think of the reasons to be grateful. Capturing the beautiful feelings that first attracted couples brings back the deep emotions that created love.
Easily Grateful
Start small. Just pick three things every day that make you smile. This is a practice that elevates the little things in life to hero status. There are so many little moments that bring small joys to us that they get overlooked because they do not seem consequential. It is good to remember them because they may suddenly become very important if they weren’t available. Think about what happens when the grocery shelves are empty of water or bread or toilet paper. Being grateful for what is always at our fingertips gets elevated to prayer status. Once there is consistency in three smiles a day, look for a few more to notice. This habit will not only encourage better feelings but may open the eyes to something unseen previously. Gratefulness decreases blindness. It’s time to put some science to work.
What three things are you grateful for right now? How can feeling grateful soften us? Are you grateful for your unique talents?
