How many of you consciously take time out for gratitude. What are you even genuinely thankful for? Studies show that the act of acknowledging what you are grateful for has a profound impact on your life, your behavior and your mind. Being grateful predicts better health, increased motivation and productivity, deeper connections and a sense of security, and finally a general feeling of satisfaction and optimism in life. All this positive energy leads to less anxiety and stress. So basically it’s a no brainer. Just be grateful. Even in the toughest of situations you are probably being spared from much worse.
So the people doing such studies, like the University of Berkeley in California have come up with an online gratefulness journal. It’s simple. You create an account, like the countless useless ones you already have, only this account leads you to an online diary where you pen down what you are grateful for. Whether you take on the 10-day challenge or the 21-day one, basically you challenge yourself to take time out daily and think about what it is you are thankful for.
What happens is that when you start to reflect on gratitude, you tend to start with the big things. If you make a habit of noting down one thing per day you will find that you run out of the big things faster than you can imagine. So now is when the research kicks in. You dig deeper and find the little things in your life that satisfy you and really make you feel happy down to your gut. That gratitude comes from the heart. Those little things suddenly don’t feel so little and in fact make big differences in your life.
• You have just come back from a business trip and you lay down on your own bed and when you head hits your pillow you think, “I’m home” and it feels so good to be able to sleep in your own bed.
• You wake up in the morning and sit down for breakfast and that first sip of tea/coffee satisfies you like nothing else. Your familiar mug and that familiar aroma is just the perfect way to start your day.
• You have just had the chance to sit and engage in a conversation that has left you feeling more energetic than when you started. If you have even one person in your life that speaks to you such that they can change your mood then you are truly blessed and those conversations leave huge impacts on your life.
• You have just achieved a goal you set for yourself and a loved tells you they are proud of you. Just hearing the “I’m proud of you” is so reassuring. You know that you are surrounded by people that are noticing your efforts.
• Your home is infused with the delightful aroma of home cooking. The anticipation for mealtime is there and when you finally sit down and take that first bite, you cannot help but be thankful for this favorite home-cooked meal. When you are done and you sit back with stomach full you cannot help but smile in thanks.
• You walk into your favorite store and notice the person that is behind you. You open the door and instead of entering first you hold the door open for them. Basic etiquette you might think. The appreciation you receive from the person leaves you realizing how big this little gesture was. It’s not only about being nice. Sometimes the simple act of opening the door as you enter can be a challenge to others.
• It’s the weekend and you are lucky enough to live near the beach. You are sitting close enough to hear the sound of the waves crashing along the shore. This has to be one of the most therapeutic sounds nature can offer you. Indulge yourself in this quiet activity and see how your body responds. A few hours by the sea shore has the ability to recharge you for an entire week. Trust me. It’s tried and tested. It’s also top on my list of thanks.
• Sometimes it’s nice to be able to have familiarity in life. Even if the familiarity is the face of a stranger. Just seeing the security guard at the entrance of your neighborhood or the same commuter on the bus as you head to work is enough to give you a sense of not being alone. Recognizing such familiar faces and sharing these experiences with strangers goes a long way in making our little everyday moments more meaningful.
• Finally, if you are really lucky then you have the ability to casually stroll around the neighborhood you grew up in. Seeing the familiar homes and meeting the familiar people, especially the friends you grew up with hanging around on these same streets, that’s icing on the cake. That deserves a whole lot of gratitude!
As I pen down today’s Contemplation, I say thanks to the people at University of Berkeley. They challenged me to think about my own life and what makes me happy and thankful. They made me think about the little things that make such a big difference in my life. Reading the comments on the online journal they offer gave me the kickstart I needed to notice the abundance of things in my life to be grateful for. They surely outweigh the challenges. Taking these little things for granted without acknowledging their importance is simply unfortunate. If you need a kickstart here’s a link for more information on this great online journal.
https://www.thnx4.org/about
If you don’t need or want to do this online, simply open up your diary and start giving thanks. It’s my challenge to you!
SO grateful to have friends like you who write blogs like these that make my heart smile :)
Sherebano u have mailed it within blog ,love it :)