5 Secrets To Maintain An Attitude Of Gratitude
I’m having such a hard time staying positive lately, and I’m pretty sure I am not alone. I seem to spin into such negativity which isn’t like me at all. Or it isn’t like the old me!
I seem to work more hours than I have for years, feel exhausted and blame everyone (in my mind at least.)
To release tension, I journal, and work at releasing all resentments, meditating more, practicing mindfulness techniques until I feel centered and then something happens and wham, in no time, I’m not ok again.
What I need is an attitude of gratitude and I need it now (ha ha, yes, I hear that). Here are ways I’ve found to get “there” quickly and just as important, to maintain it:
- GRATITUDE LIST. Without fail writing a gratitude list makes us feel better by the time we finish the list. Just keep writing till you get to 10 or 15 things you’re grateful for. Gratitude improves relationships and most studies published on this topic support an association between gratitude and an individual’s well-being.
- CELEBRATE YOUR SMALL VICTORIES. Give yourself kudos. I celebrate even finishing my workouts these days. Being indoors and on Zoom all the time, I can easily be a slug. Working out. Calling a friend to see how they’re doing. Going for a walk. Doing anything these days deserves celebrating. I’m serious. So celebrate yourself whatever you’re doing — big or small. Set doable goals and give yourself a fabulous present for reaching them. You deserve it.
- DO SOMETHING GROUNDING. Walk barefoot in some dirt, at the beach, in your backyard — someplace outside. I’m not kidding. Walking barefoot and connecting to mother earth, nature, whatever you want to call it shows positive results. “Participants who were grounded for one hour reported improvements in their moods, as opposed to those who were not grounded . . . grounding could be an easy way to decrease depression, anxiety, and stress.” https://www.lifehack.org/356380/amazing-things-that-happen-when-you-practice-grounding-walking-barefoot-the-earth-every-day “Grounding, also referred to as earthing, means having direct contact with the earth — such as walking barefoot. Researchers have found numerous benefits when we do grounding, such as reducing pain and inflammation, and even improving sleep.” So take your shoes off and go outside and play! You’ll release those negative electrons and are guaranteed to maintain an attitude of gratitude by the time you go back indoors.
- VOLUNTEER. Volunteering to help the homeless whether at a food bank or mentoring or whatever is your best genre/area to help out is a guaranteed instant pick-me-up. There is no way you won’t feel better by the time you’re done. I never want to go when it’s time to leave for whichever thing I’m volunteering for (I don’t, just being honest here). But I go anyway, because I’ve signed up, or someone is counting on me and I know I’ll be glad I did later. I always feel good afterwards. Always. I don’t think there’s ever been an exception. I’m always too busy to go when the time rolls around (mentor, feed the homeless, help paint this school downtown, whatever it is, help out on skid row . . . ) but I show up. That’s the important part here. You have to show up. Giving money is not the same. Showing up is what provides the attitude of gratitude and it’s one that lasts. No matter what’s going on in my life I am not homeless right now. I do have food. I have an education as do my kids. I may be tired but we have a bed to sleep in tonight. You get the picture. But unless you’re doing it yourself you don’t get the feelings associated with this. My father volunteers sooo much he’s won awards for it. It feels good to volunteer, and I know it keeps him young and happy. He’d tell you the same thing.
- WRITE A LETTER. Tell someone how fabulous they are by writing them a letter. You’ll feel so grateful by the time you finish the letter you won’t believe it. Think of someone you just love. Someone who lights you up inside. Now write them a letter and tell them how happy they make you and why. By the time you finish writing the letter you’re going to feel so grateful you have this person as a friend, family member and/or person in your life you won’t believe it. You’ll feel better than this person ever will. You’re going to love this person so much and have an attitude of gratitude for so long because you’re lucky enough to have such a fabulous person in your life. Want to feel even better? Write to two people :)
Instead of sticking my head in the sand and thinking the world’s over, I practice a few of these suggestions and know I’m okay. Actually I’m better than okay. I’m pretty lucky and blessed and yea, grateful for my amazing life.
“Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly.” — Proverb
