Gratitude is a practice that requires acknowledging a gesture towards us or the things that are going well in our lives. It involves both a process of recognition of the positive, and its outcome. With gratitude, there is a complex relationship between thoughts, moods, brain chemistry, endocrine function, and functioning of other physiological systems in our bodies. While an in-depth discussion of this relationship is beyond the scope of this blog, it is known that our thoughts can actually trigger physiological changes in our body that affect our mental and physical health. Basically, what you think affects how you feel (both emotionally and physically).
Gratitude is an attitude of mindfulness because it is all about noticing any positives in what is happening in the now. Just being alive we often take for granted. Even just your feet working is often taken for granted. We humans take so much for granted in the present moment.
Waiting to be grateful about something big and important will only leave you never feeling grateful at all or very rarely. So, if you consciously increase your positive thoughts, you can increase your sense of well-being as well as, perhaps, objective measures of physical health. Another bonus with gratitude practice is that you don’t need to wait to lose something before you are grateful for it.
In all Asian languages, the word for mind and heart are the same. If you hear mindfulness and don’t think heartfulness then you will struggle to understand the meaning of mindfulness.
So, today it could be worth practice gratitude with a heart centred mindfulness exercise. Begin by taking brief moments to really be grateful for our humanity, in the true spirit of heartfulness. Take your hands to heart and say “In this very moment I am grateful for…”
If you are struggling and need some inspiration, reading the poem below is a wonderful place to get started.
I Am Thankful For by Nancy J Carmody
I am thankful for
…..the mess to clean up after a party
because it means I have been surrounded by friends.
…..the taxes that I pay
because it means that I’m employed.
…..the clothes that fit a little too snug
because it means I have enough to eat.
…..my shadow who watches me work
because it means I am out in the sunshine.
…..the spot I find at the far end of the parking lot
because it means I am capable of walking.
…..all the complaining I hear about our Government
because it means we have freedom of speech.
…..that lady behind me in church who sings offkey
because it means that I can hear.
…..lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning, and gutters that need fixing
because it means I have a home.
…..my huge heating bill
because it means that I am warm.
…..weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day
because it means that I have been productive.
…..the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours
because it means that I am alive.