The Power of Gratitude: A Resilience-Building Practice
In a world often filled with challenges and uncertainties, it's easy to get caught up in the struggles of daily life.
However, there is a transformative practice that can help you navigate these challenges and build resilience—gratitude.
My list of gratitudes is vast. I can name the big ticket items—health, family, friends, and the micro gratitudes—a friendly wave from a neighbor, a warm cup of peppermint tea, my reliable laptop, and the blossoms on the tree outside my window.
It wasn't always like that. Gratitude must be learned and cultivated.
It’s Called “Practicing Gratitude” for a Reason.
There was a time when I found it difficult to name even just five things I was grateful for; but eventually, the art of appreciation became part of my daily routine. The consistency of my practice made it easier for me to feel thankful for both the big and small things in my life. And over time, I found that my overall mood had improved in the process.
I teach the practice of gratitude as a cornerstone of my coaching programs, as well as to the students at Henley Business School where I do some work. It's that important.
Gratitude has been cited as a 'meta-strategy' for happiness. The research on gratitude and its impact on our overall well-being is substantial * While there are many reasons to cultivate 'an attitude of gratitude,' as someone who researched resilience in leadership at the master's level, I am particularly interested in gratitude as a key pillar of resilience.
Gratitude = Resilience
How does that work? When we practice daily gratitude, we build a neural pathway that scans the world for what is working rather than looking for what is not. So, in times of challenge, when we are immersed in our difficulties, grief, or illness, a well-trained habit of scanning for good allows for a welcome perspective, even when there seems to be little joy.
This doesn't mean we should be forced into feeling good or wearing a fake smile, as evangelists of positive thinking might suggest. It doesn't mean we should feel guilty for not loving and being grateful for every moment of our lives. Absolutely not! This Pollyanna approach to happiness is dangerous. Acknowledging difficult times actually helps us appreciate the good ones. We need to be able to feel ALL of our emotions, recognize that bad things happen to good people, and understand that we need rest, love, and help—that is OK!
Tapping into Gratitude as a Source of Strength
Gratitude is not a blanket panacea for negative occurrences. Instead, it's about building capacity and capability during the good times to serve us when we’re struggling. Gratitude is about understanding that even in the darkest moments, there are still glimmers of light if we train ourselves to see them.
So, embrace the power of gratitude, not as a means to avoid life's challenges but as a source of strength to face them. Start small with micro gratitudes—the way the sunlight touches the leaves or your cat's purr—and then watch as they accumulate into a vast reservoir of positivity that will carry you through life's ups and downs.
Want to learn more about how a shift in mindset can help you enjoy more out of life? Head to my website for ideas on how we can work together – candaceristic.com
* https://research.com/education/scientific-benefits-of-gratitude