The Power of Gratitude

Written by Kat Eden - 16 Comments
Categories: self improvement

Cultivating An Attitude Of Gratitude: Why You Should Bother

If you regularly find yourself feeling stressed, are constantly running against the clock, often wonder if there’s any point to it all anyway, and occasionally contemplate just burying your head under the bed-sheets and refusing to face the day then you might want to try something that’s worked wonders for me.
I’ll warn you – this might come off as a little corny at first, and you may wonder how it can possibly change anything. But the truth is that since I’ve employed this very simple 5-minute technique my life really has changed for the better. Not just my career as a blogger and freelance writer, but my health and fitness, and even the quality of relationship I have with my partner and my baby daughter.

But before I start to sound too salesman-y let me tell you what I’m talking about.
THE POWER OF GRATITUDE
The power of gratitude is an amazing thing. When you actively take the time to be grateful you’ll slowly but surely notice all the things you have to be grateful for. Things that you probably never really thought about and maybe even took for granted. I mean really – unless your typical is full of lottery wins, miraculous healings, and career breakthroughs – how often do you take the time to consciously be grateful?

YOUR DAILY GRATEFUL LIST

Try this. Take just 5 minutes each day to write a list of 10 things you’re grateful for. I like to do this in the evening for the day that has just ended. You can do it anytime, but I find expressing my gratitude at night really helps me relax and wind down before bed. Oh – and I’m not necessarily talking about finding big, huge, amazing things to be grateful for. You can be grateful for –
•    Having a roof over your head
•    The smell of fresh coffee in the morning
•    Your child’s smile
•    The ability to read and write
•    Good company
•    An upcoming social event
•    A new purchase or treat
•    Your willpower throughout the day – i.e. eating well or hitting the gym

These are just ideas to get the ball rolling. Once you start to write a grateful list every day I guarantee more and more things will start coming to you and your pen just about won’t keep up!

HOW GRATITUDE BEGETS SUCCESS

And then something amazing will start to happen. It might take as little as a few days, or it could be a couple of weeks but I guarantee you this. Once you start consciously being grateful for the good things in your life you’ll notice more and more things that you actually have to be grateful for.
Now I’m no scientist or psychologist so I can’t really comment on how this works exactly. But you know what? I don’t really care because if it works it works. And whether being grateful is simply opening my eyes and my mind toward a more positive outlook, or whether it’s actually creating new opportunity and success (which I honestly believe it is), either way I feel pretty darn good.

But I do know this. You get what you expect. And when you take the time to end each day with an attitude of gratitude it’s automatic that you’ll start to expect more good things to happen the next day. And that’s a whole lot better than going to bed focusing on the stresses or challenges behind and ahead of you. Wouldn’t you say?

Kat Eden is a health coach and blogger from Melbourne, Australia, and has recently released her first book – a guide to holistic weight loss. Visit Kat over at www.bodyincredible.com for regular tips on nutrition, lifestyle, and motivation.

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  • http://andysamuels.com AndySamuels

    I like it. I usually do this in my head but I think writing in a gratitude journal will surely be the way to go.

  • http://lookingtobusiness.com Daniel M. Wood

    A great article.
    Gratitude is very closely related to forgiveness, which is something that is very important to learn as well.

    By learning to forgive everyone that has ever wronged you, you let all your anger go and all that stress evaporates.
    I had that problem a few years back, I was so angry at some people for doing me different injustices that I couldn’t focus on my life today.

    I spent time forgiving them, I didn’t tell them but I did it to myself, and all of a sudden my eyes opened and my life was wonderful again.

    If you also practice gratefulness you will really learn what a wonderful gift life is and that you very day have many things to be thankful for.

  • http://realsimplepeople.com/ John Sherry

    Gratitude is most certainly an attitude to cultivate Kat. And that gratitude lies in the little things most barely notice but take for granted. The little things are the big things like food on the table, love in your life, smiles and laughter. When they are gone the whole world is the poorer. I am forever thankful for them and for this lovely, warm post.

  • http://www.uncommonlybrilliant.blogspot.com Mike Crosby

    Of course everyone has their down moments. But, all in all, I find that by being grateful, I’m just a more upbeat person.

    Being grateful allows what’s in the conscious to flow to the subconscious.

    And back again. It does wonders for my overall attitude.

    I hope I’m not trying to sound profound (pretentious is closer to the truth). Sorry if it comes off that way.

    During the day, I like to give thanks for whatever. And in my morning walks to give thanks for another wonderful day.

    I want to get in the habit of giving thanks before each meal.

    By giving thanks, we come to realize how incredibly rich we are and fortunate to be alive.

  • http://kenokazaki.com Ken

    I’ve observed people around me and I’ve seen the very real effects of the gratitude attitude in action. People who are successful and happy in life are generally not complainers, and vise-versa.
    I tend to be critical of others in my mind sometimes, so I have to work hard at keeping a positive outlook when thinking about others around me.
    Thanks for the great post!

  • http://www.asparkstarts.com Frank

    I have found myself looking back over my life and considering some of the many things I have taken for granted. Now as I grow older and more mature I realize the importance of the network of people that surround me and the role that they played in my life. At the time I thought they were being mean, hurtful and just out to take away my good time. Now I know they saw my potential and they did everything they could to push me in the right direction. I am grateful now for every thing they did to help me. In fact you can read about it here.

    Pressure Read it. I know you will enjoy it.

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  • http://www.bestihave.com Marion Youngblood

    I am giving you a big AMEN! I have found that being grateful makes me a better person…I am more aware of the things and people around me, I am more patient, and I like myself more as well! By default, I expect good things to happen instead of expecting bad things. It’s amazing! And, like you, I don’t really know how it works, but it sure does! I love this article! Thank you.

  • http://efttappingtechniques.com/ EFT Tapping Enthusiast

    Kat, I so agree with you! Thinking gratitude thoughts makes your life better in the moment, and – I agree with you here too – makes it better in the future.

    Since I’m so lazy at night, I do my gratitude list of sort in bed, just before falling to sleep. The variation I do is to start by thinking of something good that I did or that happened to me today, then think of reasons I liked that thing, event, behavior, etc.

    Wonderful inspiring suggestion. Thanks!

    Natalie Hill

  • http://www.bodyincredible.com Kat Eden

    That’s so true – holding onto grudges hurts nobody but yourself!

  • http://www.bodyincredible.com Kat Eden

    My pleasure :) glad you enjoyed the article

  • http://guyfarmer.wordpress.com Guy Farmer

    I’m grateful you’re out there making a difference Kat. It’s amazing how we can create positive energy in our lives by deciding to focus on the things we are happy about. To appreciate even the smallest things in life is to enjoy a constant stream of gifts.

  • http://www.gratefulnation.org Vanessa

    I just read your fantastic post here. I am re posting it on Facebook Fan Page. It seems like we are both fans of the attitude: “Gratitude is good for you.” Grateful Nation is an online community that gives grateful people the opportunity and resources to connect, give back, and be thankful. Jump into the unending cycle of gratitude here at Grateful Nation Thank you, Vanessa

  • Michael Forchu

    Once again I find it imperative to appreciate your presentation because it touches on a vital spiritual attribute the lack of which leaves individuals manifesting immaturity. I would just add that gratitude is also an aspect of even a greater spiriyual attribute, namely, humility, the key to all divine bounties.

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