Last week was Thanksgiving here in the United States, which is one of my favorite holidaysโnot just for the delicious food or the quality time spent with family and friends, but for the focus on gratitude.
Gratitude isย huge,ย and it’s not just for the holiday season! It’s something that can be practiced on a daily basis, all year round. There are a number of proven benefits to practicing an “attitude of gratitude,” from improved physical and psychological health to better relationships, self-esteem, and even sleep. Yup, being grateful is just plain good for youโscience said so!
There are lots of ways to incorporate a practice of gratitude into your daily life. For example, I like to practice gratitude via little check-ins with myself; I can do it anywhere and at anytime, and it helps keep me grounded and mindful so I don’t stray into unproductive and unhealthy thinking. (I’m super prone to negative and anxious thoughts, so this helps a lot.) Like, if I’m having a bad day andย something not-so-great happens, I pause and ask myself: “What can I be grateful for in this? What is it thatย I can learn from this situation?”
Contrariwise, when I’m having a really great day (or even just a regular ol’ pretty good day), I like toย acknowledge what I’m grateful for and why: “I’m grateful to spend time with my friends today, because I feel really happy when I’m with them” or “I’m grateful to live near a park, because it allows me to enjoy nature whileย living in the city.” This active engagement with my thoughts and feelings creates a certain presentness, which is extremely centering and keeps me focused on being in the “now.” This appreciation of both the big and the smallโthe positive andย the negativeโleaves me feelingย generally more fulfilled and balanced than I do when I’m not actively practicing gratitude.
Obviously no one is perfect, and we’ve all got our bad days and our challenges. Being grateful doesn’t automatically make everything sunshine and rainbows. But, man!โit helps. It’s a great way to readjust your perspective when things are feeling a little overwhelming or hopeless. Positivity and intentional gratitudeย foster resilience, which is huge for those of us living with chronic medical conditions like lymphedema.ย I cannot tell you how many times my little “gratitude check-ins” brought me back into the moment when I’ve spiraled into negative thoughts, whether it be feelingย self-consciousย about my compression garments being visibleย (“I’m grateful thatย I have these stockingsย to help manage my swelling”) or frustration over having lymphedema (“I’m grateful for the deeper sense of empathy and patience living with a chronic medical condition has given me”). It may sound cheesy, but it’s a helpful tool to have in your toolbox, and I’m sharing this in the hopes that it could maybe help you, too.
So how canย you incorporate gratitudeย into your daily life?
Here are some ideasย fromย The Huffington Post, in a list thatย was adapted from author Lewis Howes‘ย inspirational bookย The School of Greatness:
- Wake up every day and express to yourself what you are grateful for
- Tell whoever you are with at the end of the day the 3 things you are most grateful for
- Tell whoever you are with right now (significant other, friend, family member, etc.) the 3 things that you are most grateful for in this moment
- Start a gratitude journal – Express gratitude in this journal every night by noting the things that you are grateful for, proud of, and excited about
- Acknowledge yourself for what you have done and accomplished in the last day/week/month/year. Instead of comparing yourself to others, give yourself credit for the big and small things you have been doing!
- Acknowledge other people and thank them for inspiring/helping/supporting you – oftentimes people wait their whole lives to be acknowledged (and yet it happens far too infrequently)!
Start by practicing one or two of these a day and see how you feelโyou might be surprised!
What are some things you are grateful for? How do you practice gratitude in your daily life?
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I am grateful for your blog. You write so well, and so clearly speak to many of the things I am experiencing. I’ve just recently read about the “Attitude of Gratitude” and the benefits of keeping a journal of gratitude. It is helpful to hear about its success from a personal experience. I recognize how much more difficult it must be for a young person to live with lymphedema, and I find it difficult at 75. I am grateful for excellent treatment. I appreciate your sharing your personal experiences and feelings. You might be surprised how your blog is very relevant to me.
I rarely post on the many blogs I read, preferring to read and absorb. You have created a valuable resource.
Hi! Thank you so much for your kind words – it’s incredibly encouraging to hear feedback like yours. You really touched my heart! :) Thank you, too, for sharing your own experience. Like you said, it can be incredibly difficult living with lymphedema no matter the age, but reaching out to others and keeping an “attitude of gratitude” (love that!) is what it’s all about! A lot of the time, the strength we’re seeking is already within us – we just have to remember to look.
Thank you again for taking the time to comment – it really does mean a great deal to me! ๐
Wishing you all the very best,
Alexa
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