Gratitude

Have you ever seen one of those videos where, before the video, the caption tells you to count how many red objects there are? You do so, and, at the end of the video, the video asks you not about the red objects but about how many blue ones there were. You then have to go back and look, with intention, towards something else that you previously missed in the chaos- a different goal. Gratitude works similarly. 

When we look at our packed schedules, our unread emails, work projects, kids’ sports games, we tend to get overwhelmed. We do not usually notice things outside of it. We’re rushed, busy, and unintentional. Chained to our calendars. And that’s with only mentioning a few things in life.

Even the outside world nowadays behaves in this frantic, hurried way. We live with technology where we can skip ads, we despise buffering, we pay more for quick shipping, we order ahead or get things delivered. We buy additional passes to skip lines for airports, amusement parks. We complain about the slow workers or slow drivers and so much more. Being surrounded by that lifestyle usually has a pull on us subconsciously or even consciously. The way of the world now is fast-paced and loud. Gratitude, on the other hand, is quiet. It’s hidden and doesn’t call for attention. It’s something that doesn’t come as naturally to most of us in our human nature and requires intention towards it. Usually, you have to make the first move. 

I believe there are certain things in life we never stop learning and growing in. Things like contentment, peace, knowledge, gratitude, and so much more. And as someone who has practiced gratitude challenges several times in my life (sometimes for a month, a season, or a whole year straight) and is currently doing a gratitude challenge again, I cannot stress the importance of it. Now I know the last thing people usually want to hear about is another thing that they have to or should do, but you can practice this in several ways and as simply as possible. You can tell yourself that you only need to come up with one thing a day to be grateful for on your drive to work, just to make sure that you do it. Oftentimes, once you start, you cannot help but think of a few more good things in life. You can even do it just in your head and keep it to yourself or, my favorite, write them down. You can also make it more social too, by asking someone if they’d like to text three things they are grateful for everyday to each other. However you do it, if you are consistent, I believe you will notice its benefits.

This is probably the easiest action step there is! To start, maybe just think of one thing each morning you are grateful for, go slow, add more to that list of one, and stay consistent. And, who knows? Maybe you’ll end up starting to think of things you are grateful for in the times you need them most."