Someone recently asked me “What is the most effective way have gratitude?”
With the pandemic on everyone’s mind, I need to revisit the topic — for myself and anyone else that cares to listen.
At one time I scoffed at the concept of the power of gratitude - gratitude “journaling” and such. The idea felt too fake, disingenuous, or delusional.
Reading the book (The Happiness Advantage) by Shawn Achor changed my mind — or at least opened me up to the possibilities.
Achor has done a lot of research and posits that happiness precedes success — which is the opposite of our normal way of thinking. And crafting a positive mindset is the path to both happiness and success.
I added a gratitude practice as a part of my daily journaling routine. That’s where I outline my objectives for the day, the obstacles, challenges and plans.
Doing the “gratitude thing” daily is important.
It’s easy to fall back into a default mode, ie, “Life Sucks — Then You Die — Get Over It.”
For me, gratitude journaling as simple as listing 3 things. (more if I’m on a roll . . .)
Of course you COULD write paragraphs or pages.