The #1 Benefit of a Daily Gratitude Practice

Practicing daily gratitude adds a new perspective to your life. 

As we enter into the month of November where many celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, it seems natural to shift our focus to gratitude. Almost two years ago I began an 8-minute journal activity that includes three elements, one of which is creating a list of gratitudes from the previous day. I started this practice in the hopes it would help me stop and smell the roses; in essence, I was looking to become more present throughout my day. When you have multiple competing priorities to attend to each day like me, it is easy to have tunnel vision honing in on the deadlines at work, running the kids to practices, keeping up with the day-to-day around the house and just enough time to have a fly-by convo with the other half. If you understand what I'm describing you too realize your days are filled with an endless to do list making it too easy to become distracted away from the present moment. What if I told you that by regularly writing out my list of gratitude I have trained myself to not only be more present, but I find myself being more thoughtful, less reactive and laughing all the time!

Laugh more!

For me, taking the time to write out a list of my most meaningful moments, outcomes and details from the previous day, encourages my mind to keep a more positive perspective. Doing it first thing in the morning while I drink my favorite dark roast is the perfect time, because there are no distractions. Making the time to write five things I am grateful for first thing in the morning guarantees it gets done. It also forces my attention to find positive things that then illicit positive feelings. Why is this so important?  I have found this then creates a foundation of positive where I am more likely to focus on the positive as I move through my day.

The list is typically short and simple:

1. catching up with my friend Shelly on the phone - an actual phone conversation;

2. wearing my tan riding boots for the first time this season;

3. sharing a laugh with my husband in the kitchen before the girls were awake;

4. clean sheets on the bed;

5. sending a short email to my daughter's teacher thanking her for taking a few extra minutes with her.

As you will notice, there is nothing monumental or impressive about this list. Instead it is special just to me. That is the exact point. The list isn't meant to be shared, judged, compared; A gratitude list is personal and intimate, not meant to be shared. Reflecting on the previous day and connecting with the positive feelings brings a smile to my face. I feel blessed. 

Here's the thing, there are days when this activity is difficult. The morning after a really tough day at work or when there are lingering feelings from a fight with the hubby. We all have those days, and what I have found is by writing out my list of gratitude, my perspective changes. What I had been holding onto as a big problem, now seems so much smaller. There is nothing gained by hanging onto the negativity. 

Fast forward to the past eight months where we have all been living in a COVID sensitive world, it is easy to fixate on all the things missing. I, too, miss being able to host all my favorite friends and large family gatherings, go to concerts and movies, TRAVEL... need I say more? Working and facilitating distance learning from home can often make these four walls seem very very small. But when I take the time to acknowledge the special moments and matters, I feel fulfilled. It reinforces all that I have, not what I may perceive to be lacking.