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What does Gratitude mean?
A recent study conducted by “The National Wildlife Federation” estimated that 3 million to 100 million species could exist on planet Earth. It could even be more!!
An opportunity to experience this unique human life stands no less than saying “one in a million.” Among the eight billion humans on this planet, ~10% of the population lives below the poverty line (less than $2.15 a day), unable to access a daily meal to survive for self/family. While we look at these figures rationally and from a probability point of view, it is quite a high possibility that you or I could have been part of this enormous population. If you had a good meal yesterday and are certain about your meal today, it means your survival is not a threat, and you are in a much better state than 10% of the world population.
In our busy lives, we seldom pause and reflect on the luxuries we have in our lives. So, while I zoom out and look at the world & humanity as one, supplemented with the data shared above, it will not be unfair to call out the so-called “normal” things like access to fresh food, clean drinking water, family, friends, transportation, television, social media, etc. as “luxuries” of life. The majority of you who are reading this write-up, trust me, you are living a luxury life, and the least it deserves is conscious attention and an attitude of being grateful for this experience.
What does Gratitude mean? This whole process of taking a moment, reflecting on self, being grateful, and expressing it in any other form, is known as “Gratitude”. Or in other words, it is a process of transmitting positive energy to the universe for the things you are grateful for.
Power of Gratitude
The potential power of gratitude is enormous. Gratitude is a form of attitude, and one can develop it by exercising it more consciously and regularly. A mere expression of gratitude can help you in many ways, for instance
- Living in a state of higher fulfillment, deeper satisfaction, and more joyfulness. It is well proven from the various experiments & research conducted on happiness, that the most effective way to feel happy is to express gratitude.
- Shifting your focus from lack to abundance.
- Strengthening your relationships.
- Creating positive energy around you. It acts like a two-way street; you release positive energy, and you receive it back.
How to Practice Gratitude
The best thing about the art of gratitude lies in its simplicity and application in day-to-day life. It requires no exceptional learning or skills, and anyone of any age group can do it anywhere, free of cost.
There are numerous ways by which you can practice gratitude. Listed below are some techniques that I use and recommend.
1. Journaling
List down your set of things to be grateful for in life. It could range anywhere from 1 thing you are most grateful for to 500 things. Your listed items could appear as small as having a pen and diary to write, the food you had, the fan under which you are sitting, the TV you have, and the music you are listening to. It is not about how big or small the thing is, it is about developing an attitude of being more conscious of what you have in life and being grateful about that.
While you may choose a laptop / iPad/ phone handset to do this exercise, I prefer pen and paper. Writing down with your hand in ink helps energy flow smoother and more effectively from the brain to the hands and eventually to the notebook.
2. Verbalizing
If you feel journaling is time consuming for you, I suggest that you find a peaceful space, close your eyes, and simply verbalize what you are feeling grateful for. Say it loud enough so that at least you can hear it. Switching from thinking about it to saying it loud enables a free flow of the power and vibration of words. It can be transformational self-talk.
3. Expressing
Famous author William Arthur said, “Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not presenting it”. Many of you may not be best at expressing your feelings & emotions to others, whether it is to your parents, teachers, friends, family, or any other loved ones.
It may seem a bit awkward to express yourself, or you may assume that people around you are aware of your feelings. However, when you express gratitude, the flow of positive energy exchange between you and the sender is phenomenal. So, go to your loved ones and say what they mean to you, how much you value them, and what you are grateful for. Initially, you may feel a bit uncomfortable, however, it will deepen your relationship to the core. Don’t shy away from writing a letter or planning a surprise to express your gratitude.
4. Prayer or Meditation
With meditation or short prayer, you can connect with the energy you believe in. Whether you are an atheist, have faith in God, or believe in the powers of the universe, connect with the higher energy, and express your gratitude for things you are grateful for. You can do this for 5 minutes or any duration you feel comfortable with.
The above mentioned are simply different routes to reach one common destination- developing the practice of gratitude. You can follow one of the practices or try a mix of multiple methods that resonates with you.
When can you practice Gratitude?
The best duration to practice gratitude is what suits you most. What is important is consistency and belief. To maintain consistency, you can put a reminder in your phone or put up a wallpaper on your desktop or attach this to any other habit of your daily routine. For instance, before I sleep, I close my eyes for 5 mins and recall all the things I can be grateful for, or journal gratitude when I wake up, or remember something I am grateful for while driving or just before having a meal, pray for 2 mins and feel thankful for the food.
The best time I can suggest is when you wake up in the morning, as this puts you in the right frame of mind and prepares you for the day.
People often feel fragile and give up when things are not going how they want. This is where gratitude plays a crucial role and helps you to sail through tough times. By exercising gratitude over the years, I have experienced that irrespective of the dire circumstances, being grateful helps you attract better people, powerful resources, and unexpected opportunities.
Conclusion
As much as exercising, eating good food, and getting sunlight are vital for our physical well-being, meditation, good habits, and practicing GRATITUDE are equally critical for our mental well-being.
