Power of the Gratitude Attitude

The practice of gratitude as a tool for happiness has been in the mainstream for years. Long-term studies support gratitude’s effectiveness, suggesting that a positive, appreciative attitude contributes to greater success in work, greater health, peak performance in sports and business, a higher sense of well-being, and a faster rate of recovery from surgery.

But while we may acknowledge gratitude’s many benefits, it still can be difficult to sustain. So many of us are trained to notice what is broken, undone or lacking in our lives. And for gratitude to meet its full healing potential in our lives, it needs to become more than just a Thanksgiving word. We have to learn a new way of looking at things, a new habit. We need to develop our Gratitude Attitude. And that can take some time.

That’s why practicing gratitude makes so much sense. When we practice giving thanks for all we have, instead of complaining about what we lack, we give ourselves the chance to see all of life as an opportunity and a blessing. We also focus on the positive thus attracting more positive.

Remember that gratitude isn’t a blindly optimistic approach in which the bad things in life are whitewashed or ignored. It’s more a matter of where we put our focus and attention. Pain and injustice exist in this world, but when we focus on the gifts of life, we gain a feeling of well-being. Gratitude balances us and gives us hope. Hope can help lead to happiness.

There are many things to be grateful for: warm sunny weather, legs that work, friends who listen to us, chocolate, pets that love us, hot coffee with half and half, the silence in the early morning before others get up, tomatoes, the ability to read, roses, our health, butterflies. What’s on your list?

Here are Some Ways to Practice Gratitude

• Keep a gratitude journal in which you list things for which you are thankful. You can make daily, weekly or monthly lists. Greater frequency may be better for creating a new habit, but just keeping that journal where you can see it will remind you to think in a grateful way.

• Make a gratitude collage by drawing or pasting pictures.

• Practice gratitude around the dinner table or make it part of your routine in the morning and/or night.

• Make a game of finding the hidden blessing or lesson in a challenging situation.

• When you feel like complaining, make a gratitude list instead. You may be amazed by how much better you feel.

• Notice how gratitude is impacting your life. Write about it, sing about it, express thanks for gratitude.

As you practice, an inner shift begins to occur, and you may be delighted to discover how content and hopeful you are feeling. That sense of fulfillment is gratitude at work. The Gratitude Attitude is a must for Happiness.

So how do you feel about your own life? Are you happy? Where are you now? Where do you want to be?

It takes time to evolve into the person we want to be, even if we believe we can do it (Let alone if we are unsure – which puts us in the category where most of us fall). It takes a concerted, consistent effort to move through the steps toward our goals. Or maybe the vision is unclear – something nags at us that there is more that we want to do – but what? And if we know the What, then How do we get there? Who will respect our dreams, support our goals and work toward helping us fulfill our desires? Who will focus on our agenda instead of driving toward their own? This is the purpose of having your own coach. Your coach’s mission is to respect, support and move you forward toward the very vision that you seek. We're here to help!!

Cheers to YOUR SuCCess! ~ Janus Moncur - The Co-Creative Coach™