#65: Gratitude

No matter how hard I try, it won’t mean much to them. Nobody will ever thank me.

And yet, do I really need them to experience the feeling of gratitude?

No, I don’t.

Although gratitude can be (and ideally is) a two way street, don’t depend on others expressing their gratitude towards you and your contribution. If you actually found yourself surrounded by people struggling with positive emotions such as gratitude, then there wouldn’t be any harm in looking for a new crowd to hang out with.

Gratitude is most powerful when practiced for yourself as there is ample evidence that expressing gratitude improves mental, physical and relational well-being.

While its effects can be long-lasting, they also take time to develop. Gratitude therefore needs to be cultivated. A gratitude journal and gratitude meditation are two proven cultivation tools best built into a daily practice or ritual.

What I like most is the idea that the brain needs to be «retrained to see all the wonder and possibility that lays before us each day».

So let me start like this.

I am grateful for my physical, emotional and mental health.

I am grateful for my wife’s love and support.

I am grateful for the choices I have.

Wanny try? It is easier than you think.