Why is Gratitude So Important?

There is a lot of talk about being grateful these days. Do you ever wonder what all the hype is about? Do you currently have a gratitude practice? Are you like me and sometimes wonder if you are doing it right or if it even works? When I think back to hard times and what helped me get through it there are 2 things that come to mind. The first one is gratitude. I'll get to the second one later.

What first comes to mind is an experience that my friend, Marcus Aurelius Anderson, writes about in his book, "The Gift of Adversity." Marcus found himself paralyzed from the neck down and tells the story of how he overcame his paralysis and pain to find his purpose in life. I've talked about the importance of how we speak to ourselves and that our brains will seek out the words that are top of  mind. Instead of telling someone, "Don't get hurt" it is more effective to say, "Stay safe."

My self-talk as they call it continues to be a work in progress for me. When I catch myself talking negatively in my mind, going to a dark place or doubting myself I am aware enough now to catch myself. What does that mean? I stop and repeat to myself, "DELETE, DELETE, DELETE." and I start again with positive words of what I would like to invite into my life. Marcus was told he would never walk again at 40 years old. I can't even imagine what that would be like. He struggled and wanted to give up. He quickly realized that wasn't an option because he couldn't move his body. When he finally surrendered and started to be grateful for things in his life that is when he started to make progress - he moved his fingers to start. When he got cocky and forgot about being grateful his progress came to a screeching halt. When he brought his focus back to little things he was grateful for it allowed more things to be grateful for to come into his life. 

So what's the deal? Why do you think being grateful is so important that it can cause a physical outcome in your body when there was no hope previously? Gratitude enhances your physical health. Studies show that people who practice gratitude often experience better sleep, reduced inflammation, and lower blood pressure. Gratitude builds a "buffer" against life's hardships. Focusing on what you have rather than what you lack helps you bounce back from adversity more quickly. By practicing gratitude, you become more aware of the present moment and its blessings. This mindfulness reduces stress and enhances overall quality of life. 

What are ways you can cultivate gratitude? 

• Journaling: Write down 3-5 things you’re grateful for each day. Put some thought into it. Write what you are grateful for and why it matters.
• Express Thanks: Verbally or through notes, express appreciation to others. Acknowledge how they helped you or how they made you feel.
• Mindfulness Practices: Pause during your day to reflect on things you often take for granted.
• Gratitude Rituals: Create habits, like reflecting on positives during meals or before bed.

Now to tell you the second thing that helps me get through hard times. For me it is utter and total surrender. To what, you ask? When I am going through a tough time I am usually overcome with worry about things that are out of my control. I want them to change and will make myself crazy trying to figure out how to go about it. It takes me acknowledging that there is no point in worrying about what I cannot control. I have to let it go, stop worrying about it and trust that it will work out. This is not easy to do. It normally comes to me when I have tried everything I can think of and am at a loss for what to do next. The only thing left to do is surrender. At that point it is out of my hands. Whenever I have completely let it go and let it happen on its own the situation resolves itself usually in a way that was even better than what I had hoped for. 

Tell me, what are you grateful for in this exact moment?