Developing A GRATITUDE Mindset
Hello Dear Souls,
FALL oh beautiful fall, we feel you now. How are you all doing out there? The beauty of this season is wrapping me up like a cozy blanket with the most stunning colors and landscapes here in Sonoma. It’s a place that often radiates peacefulness and a sense of calm that I absorb so gratefully. When we stay connected internally to things like peace, hope and gratitude we naturally share it with others. As we gently stroll into the end of the year, my hope is this article on Developing A Gratitude Mindset can be supportive to you in some way. This was published in The Sonoma Social Publication and I wanted to share it with all of YOU who support me, thank you.
Gratitude is a popular word we are all quite familiar with. While some may confuse “gratitude is the attitude” for a self-help fad, a multitude of science based studies indicate that creating a gratitude practice does have a profound impact on our overall well-being. I can't think of a better time as we roll into November and the holiday season to acknowledge the goodness in our lives, both big and small. As we strengthen our ability to recognize and appreciate the positive aspects of life, even in the face of challenges– this powerful mindset of gratitude can elevate our mental and physical health to great heights. Can you imagine what a difference it could make if we all had a gratitude practice?
While numerous positive psychology studies continue to emerge on the benefits of consistently expressing gratitude, I too can affirm developing a gratitude mindset has the ability to improve mental well-being, foster stronger relationships, and even enhance our physical health. I have felt major shifts in various times of my life in all of these areas as my gratitude practice grew more consistent and intentional over the last decade.
Would you pause right now with me? Think of one thing you are grateful for today. Take three calming breaths, in through the nose and out through the nose, thinking of that grateful thought, (you can close your eyes if you want to). –My hope is that those twenty seconds felt really good. Now for the big question; how many of us are expressing gratitude in some form of a daily practice? The simplicity of this practice can be often overlooked as we live in a world that emphasizes material success and achievement, so starting someplace practical that aligns with you would be my recommendation. It could be as simple as what we just did: one thought with conscious breathing.
“We are who we practice to be. So if you practice gratitude, you’ll be grateful”
Let’s also acknowledge that leaning into the power of gratitude may be tough at times. I get it. Some of our natural tendencies to see what's not going well, complaints about the little stuff and negative thought patterns exist in all of us. No one is alone in that space. We've all been there and sometimes get really stuck wallowing. But what if we could change that and begin to rewire our brains so that the natural tendency of being more positive arrived? We were able to see all the amazing little things in life more regularly and could minimize how impactful negative thought patterns are. The practice lies in being able to shift perspectives over and over again until it becomes more natural. Research has shown that consistently practicing gratitude can lead to a host of positive outcomes. It reduces stress levels, improves sleep quality, and supports overall mental health. Focusing on what we have rather than what we lack, we shift our attention towards positivity and abundance. I personally feel like developing this mindset is the feel-good gift that keeps on giving.
Having a mindful appreciation about our surroundings, keeping a journal, being able to start and end our days with some intentional gratitudes, expressing gratitude with others and practice finding what we are grateful for when faced with adversity are all supportive ways to develop a gratitude mindset.
Gratitude journaling can be one of the most effective ways (and my personal favorite), to develop this powerful mindset. Taking a few moments each day to write down a few things you’re thankful for can help train our mind to seek out and appreciate the positive aspects of life. These could range from significant accomplishments to the smallest moments of joy. Discover what you personally resonate with; getting a pen to paper in a journal, using an app on your phone or jotting them in a daily calendar you use. Currently, I’ve found carrying a small Moleskine notebook specifically for gratitudes in my purse to be the most convenient. Filling pages is so gratifying and fun to flip back through. You may be surprised how much you look forward to doing this each day as you create the habit.
As we gravitate toward the understanding that through simple yet meaningful actions of gratitude we can cultivate this mindset and experience the profound benefits it offers. It can be transformative and lead to greater happiness, improved relationships and support our overall health and wellbeing. When we think about great ways to create ripple effects of positivity around the world and enrich our own lives, gratitude is the attitude.
Thank you for stopping by today. Sip on those warming lattes, enjoy some nurturing foods and tenderly tune in to what supports you mindfully right now. Autumn has a lovely way of reminding us to do this as we observe colors changing and leaves drifting to the ground. We can embrace letting go and accept what’s shifting. You can begin the simplicity of daily gratitude just by noticing what’s happening in nature around you that you appreciate.