To be in a state of gratitude is one of the most blissful states to be in.
When we feel like we are in a state of gratitude, life takes on a new meaning. Our relationships strengthen as we feel more connected, we feel happier, we feel more assured in ourselves to be of service to others, we feel more fulfilled with life, more internally nourished. Negatives turn into positives and where there is dark we really can see the light. No matter what is happening in the external world, when we are in a state of gratitude, we feel amazing.
Many research studies find that gratitude = well-being. So how can we achieve this?
Martin Seligman, in his book Flourish, talks about the following three methods – all of which I can personally attest to being effective.
1. Write down three things every morning that we are grateful for – no matter how big ( I am grateful that I am alive) or how small (I am grateful for the coffee that is currently brewing). Tweak the gratitude muscle to get it working – get that feeling going.
2. At the end of the day, write down three things that went well that day. And tweak the gratitude muscle to really get a felt sense of the notion of grateful.
3. Write a gratitude letter. Write to someone who has significantly impacted your life, telling them how they have done it and how it has changed or impacted you as a result. Then read it out loud to them, in person. You might not be able to deliver it in person during isolation, so perhaps pop it in the mail instead.
Sometimes it is really difficult to feel grateful. Especially when we are experiencing trauma, or loss, or fear of loss, or uncertainty. But as @drshaunashapiro says in her lovely book “Good Morning I Love You”, and her workshops, “What you practice grows stronger”
So let’s get practising gratitude. It might feel difficult at first – but like any muscle, the more we practice, the stronger we will feel it, and the more blissful we will feel as a result.
We’d love to hear your gratitude. If you’d like to share with us, and the community, please leave you gratitude in the comments below, or email us at blog@trcgroup.org.uk.
Author: Lucinda Gordon Lennox
Lucinda works at The Recovery Centre, which has clinics in London and Edinburgh.