A year of gratitude

A little over a year ago I came across the Mayo Clinic’s “Gratitude Program”, and started keeping a journal in which I noted a few things I was grateful for at the end of each day. This fun and easy month-long program is still available on their website, and you can learn more about it in my November 2022 newsletter (link). I enjoyed keeping this gratitude journal so much that I’ve continued all year, and when I recently reflected on the impact this simple practice has had on my life, I notice a few things:

More contentment:

The most obvious change has been a deeper sense of contentment. Keeping a gratitude journal has made me more aware of all the amazing people, opportunities, and things in my life, and I have noticed that my life is in a beautiful state of harmony and love. There is so much to be thankful for and the gratitude journal has made me more aware of the richness of my life.

Feeling more connected to the present:

The act of noticing good things in my life on a daily basis, has had a powerful impact on keeping me more focused on the present. I seem to worry less about what “should” have been or what will be in the future and am finding that I am more comfortable with what “is” in THIS present moment.

Less overwhelm:

Somehow feeling more present in the moment seems to be helping me feel less overwhelmed and overburdened. Before the gratitude program I tended to easily feel overwhelmed by all the things that “had to get done” and feeling a lot of internal pressure to “be productive”. Now I’ve noticed that it’s become easier to look at a task or project and break it into smaller action-items that I can complete methodically without getting stuck in the “hugeness” of the whole thing all at once.

Noticing opportunities for growth:

Noticing the many good things in my life, I can also see which areas could become better if I approached them from a more spiritual perspective. I can notice when I’ve hurt someone or caused offense and think about what I need to do to make amends. I can identify where fear and resistance hold me back from personal growth. Because my heart feels full of gratitude, I feel more capacity to acknowledge areas in my life that I want to work on and transform.

One of the resources I’ve turned to often while keeping my gratitude journal are the “virtues cards” produced by the Virtues Project. Their definitions of gratitude and thankfulness are below:

Gratitude

“Gratitude is a constant attitude of thankfulness and appreciation for life as it unfolds. Living in the moment, we are open to abundance around us and within us. We express appreciation freely. We contemplate the richness of our life. We feast on beauty. We notice small graces and are thankful for daily gifts. In life’s trials, we seek to understand, to accept, and to learn. Gratitude is the essence of genuine happiness. It is a virtue we can never have too much of. Gratitude is a continual celebration of life.”

Thankfulness

“Thankfulness is gratitude for all the bounties of life. Expressing thanks connects us to others and brings them joy. Each day, we find a moment to count our blessings. Reflecting on the treasures in our lives lifts our spirits. Thankfulness soothes our sadness and restores our hope. It gives us perspective. As we practice thankfulness, we attract more and more blessings, because thanksgiving is conducive to bounty. Thankfulness is a path to contentment.”