A bizarre thing happened to me a few months ago.
An intuitive thought landed into my mind out of the blue from nowhere, unexpectedly.
It was 2 words.
‘Gratitude debt.’
Not a phrase I had ever heard. Or used.
Bizarre. I listened to it.
It wasn’t until I married an orphan, the product of 2 diasporas on both sides of their family who had to flee for their survival, that I realised how lucky I am.
Having a family, a home, support.
Watching the news about Gaza and Ukraine – having running water and shelter.
What is gratitude?
Gratitude is the quality of feeling or being thankful and appreciative for the good things in your life, recognising the value of blessings, people and experiences, even small ones.
It involves acknowledging goodness and understanding its sources such as other people or circumstances. Practising gratitude means consciously reflecting on and appreciating the positive aspects of life, which can enhance overall well-being.
Quotes about gratitude.
“Gratitude is the ability to experience life as a gift. It liberates us from the prison of pre-occupation.” John Ortburg.
“The more you practice the art of thankfulness, the more you have to be thankful for.” Norman Vincent Peale.
Key aspects of gratitude
• Thankfulness
• Recognition of value
• External sources
• A positive emotional state
Why is gratitude useful?
• It helps you to focus on what you have, not what you haven’t.
• A mindset of gratitude is a positive mindset
• It helps well-being and happiness
• It strengthens relationships
7 practical tips to practice gratitude
- List the things/people in your life that you are grateful for.
- Express gratitude – mental appreciation, by saying thank you, a gesture such as a greeting card.
- Keep a gratitude diary.
- Set an intention every day to give back e.g. ‘how can I make someone’s day today?’
- Give back – do ‘random acts of kindness’.
- Be specific – what specifically is it that you are grateful for?
- Gratitude is a behaviour that can be learned, even if you a pessimist – it can become an effective habit.
4 self-reflective questions about gratitude
- What am I grateful for?
- What is my ‘gratitude debt’ and to who?
- What does gratitude mean to me?
- What 3 specific actions will I take to show my gratitude?