How to Practice Gratitude, Even In Difficult Times
When life is in flow and things are going well, it can be easy to quickly list the things that we are grateful for. But in challenging times, like those we are currently living in, we can get stuck in a place of fear and uncertainty. That list of things we are grateful for may be harder to come by.
In these times, we also may withdraw, become focused on our most primary needs. Take a moment to step back and reconnect with your sense of gratitude and with those who contribute to your well-being. Today we’re tackling the question how to practice gratitude while offering some helpful ways to practice gratitude.
Being grateful is a heartfelt response to a person or condition in your life. It is different from being thankful, which is normally expressed for something someone has given you or done for you. It has an emotional versus material focus. In these challenging times, there are several aspects to gratitude that are particularly important to explore and understand.
#1. Shift Your Perspective Outwards
Exploring gratitude requires that you shift your perspective outward. It can help you move your focus beyond your current circumstance.
#2. Connect To Others Through Gratitude
Second, the perceived gift is given by another individual or a higher source. Therefore, you connect (even if it is only in your thoughts) with others. In times of social distancing, this is a beautiful and safe way to connect profoundly with those who contribute to your life and well-being.
I’d like to share how I practice daily gratitude.
How To Practice Gratitude
Each evening I take a few quiet minutes and allow 3 people or conditions to come into my awareness. I think of each, one-by-one, as I focus on my heart and take a deep breath. If I sense a warmth and glow in my heart, I know I’m being authentic. I take a few additional breaths of gratitude for that particular person or condition.
I have found that my mind sometimes brings up people or conditions that I think I should be grateful for. When I apply that same exercise in those moments, the warmth and glow isn’t there. That’s because it’s forced. Practicing gratitude is about being authentic and present in the moment. Allow your list to change. There is no judgement and no right or wrong answers. Remember you can always start with something as essential as your breath.
Benefits of Practicing Gratitude
According to Psychology Today, in addition to shifting your perspective outward and strengthening connections with others, practicing gratitude has also shown to offer additional emotional and physical benefits that are particularly important in these challenging times:
increased sense of happiness;
reduced depression;
improved sleep.
Practicing gratitude is not only beneficial in these challenging times but can be an easy and effective addition to your self-care routine. It will support you to be more present, which also helps you be less reactive and more objective. Explore this practice by keeping a gratitude journal and deepen your relationship with your authentic self and with those individuals that are dearest to you. Over time, notice who/what consistently makes your list. Notice if different situations make you more grateful for certain people and conditions. Without judgement, deepen your own self-awareness for better self-care.
Practicing Gratitude Together
Book a yoga session to quiet your mind and body.