Gratitude: [n] a feeling of thankfulness and appreciation.
If you’d asked me, when I first started practicing yoga 17 years ago, what I wanted to get out of my time on the mat, I would have focused solely on the physical aspect of overcoming a knee injury.
Now? I practice yoga and meditation so that I can stay positive and keep a sense of gratitude on a daily basis. Gratitude for the good things in my life, and gratitude for the crappy things that usually have a much needed life lesson attached to them. I’m not a card carrying member of the Catholic church, but I do recall this nugget of wisdom: “In everything give thanks.”
What can seem unfortunate at first may turn out to be an unforeseen blessing. But to realize this, we must first try to live in the present moment as much as we can, so we can truly see our life as it is, and not as how it “should” be. That “should” having been put upon us by ourselves, our family, or even the media.
“True happiness is to enjoy the present, without anxious dependence upon the future; not to amuse ourselves with either hopes or fears but to rest satisfied with what we have, which is sufficient. The greatest blessings of mankind are within us; a wise man is content with his lot, whatever it may be, without wishing for what he has not.” Seneca
Practicing gratitude consistently leads to a direct experience of being connected to life and the realization that there is a larger context in which your personal story is unfolding. The practice of gratitude is not in any way a denial of life’s difficulties. no doubt you’ve experienced many challenges, uncertainties, and disappointments in your own life. However, you might ask yourself about your “gratitude ratio.” Do you experience the good things in your life in true proportion to the bad things?
How To Practice Mindful Cultivation of Gratitude
Gratitude is the sweetest of all the practices for living our yoga in daily life- and the most easily cultivated, requiring the least sacrifice for what is gained in return. The holidays are a perfect time to be grateful; amidst the shopping, cooking, and over-booking, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and forget what this time of year is truly about.
Practicing just this one tip helps us see the glass half full, even when the mind is stuck in problem-solving mode; where it only notices what isn’t working. We reduce our experience of being alive if we only respond to the negative. This isn’t what we want out of life, awaiting a future, perfect moment that may never arrive.
Life is happening NOW…
The more we can appreciate what we have in this moment, the happier we, and the people we surround ourselves with are going to be. One super simple thing to do every day is to actively notice things you are grateful for throughout your regular day. For instance, when you’re stuck in traffic and it’s making you late and irritated, you can be thankful you have transportation. The traffic may remain frustrating, but the inner experience of how your life is unfolding begins to shift. Slowly you become clearer about what really matters to you, and there is more ease.
Why is practicing gratitude so important? A few facts that those smarty-pants researchers have discovered:
A 2003 study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that creating a list of all the things you are thankful for supports a brighter outlook on life and a greater sense of positivity.
Grateful people are more compassionate, supportive and better friends; plus they make better relationship partners. In other words, practice gratitude and people will want to be around you.
Gratitude isn’t just for grownups: Grateful high schoolers have higher GPAs and tend to be happier, so get the whole family on board!
If you only take one minute a day to practice gratitude, I promise it will absolutely change the way you look at the world and make a huge impact on the happiness you feel each day!
I’m grateful for you!
XO
Danielle
