A Simple Way to Grow Gratitude

I think we could all use a booster shot of thankfulness as we approach our National Day of Thanksgiving. A shift in focus to everything we have and what is going well works miracles.

While gratitude is a prerequisite for happiness, it’s a trap to think that you’re saving your gratitude for that Really Big Win (RBW). Happiness comes from appreciation of the little things of everyday life.

“I don’t have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness – it’s right in front of me if I’m paying attention and practicing gratitude.” Brene Brown

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You already know there are ways to cultivate gratitude: volunteering to help the less fortunate, a mission trip or making your thankfulness lists at Thanksgiving. However, I have an even simpler tool to accelerate your gratitude garden and it takes very little time. You can use it anywhere, any time.

There is 1 simple question that instantly raises the gratitude component at your house (or office,) which automatically ups the happiness scale.

Of everything that happened today, what are you most grateful for?

or the variation…

What is the best thing that happened to you today?

or…

Of everything that’s going on with you right now, what are you most excited about?

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This kind of question automatically puts the focus on what we should be grateful for. And that is something to be thankful for.

Making this into a daily habit reduces your stress by shifting your focus. If you practice this at home with family, you may have to enforce a rule of not giving the same answer 2 days in a row.

Bonus!! Yet one more powerful way to use your growing gratitude….as a prologue to a critical conversation. Any time you need to give constructive feedback or involve a delicate topic of discussion, starting off with sincere and specific appreciation for the other person is the absolute best way to get that ball rolling in a positive direction.

At this moment, I’m super grateful to have this chance to write for the beautiful and creative community of The Southern C. Of everything that’s going on with you right now, what are you most excited about?