Grounding in Gratitude
How often do we rush through our days, not making time to appreciate the beauty around us? How often do we fixate on what is wrong or could go wrong instead of appreciating all that is good and whole in our lives? How often do we believe we will only be happy once we attain some future goal instead of cultivating joy in our present lives? This isn’t a personal failing. Our brains are designed to notice problems so that we can address them and protect ourselves. But we lose out on so much if we stay in this automatic, limited mindset. We could end up missing out on our entire lives.
Sometimes gratitude can sometimes feel vulnerable. When we love something so much, it can be hard to let ourselves feel all that love without fearing its loss. We can get stuck in the mindset that we must keep a tight lid on our joy in order to keep ourselves safe. Loss is one of the hardest things we as humans face. But it is not buffered by repressing our joy. When we feel ourselves getting lost in worry it can be a good a reminder to reconnect with gratitude. Gratitude can help us connect with the good things in our lives while we have them. It can help us let go of fear and rumination and connect with what is real and present. We cannot protect our future selves from loss. But we can soak up all the joy and love available to us in the present moment. That is all we ever have.
Gratitude isn’t about pretending everything is perfect. Pain is real, this world isn’t perfect. We all look around and wish things could be different. We wish parts of ourselves could be different, too. Wanting to grow, wanting to make positive changes in the world is important. But getting lost in negativity and judgment doesn’t foster those changes. We don’t want to deny our pain or shy away from accountability, but we also don’t want to miss the beautiful things in ourselves and the world because we are only focusing on the negative. Positive change can’t happen that way. Positive change can only happen when we connect with love, courage, and hope. And gratitude is the way to do that. It can help us remember all the good that is already here. It can help us connect to the parts of life that we want to help grow.
When we connect with gratitude, we give ourselves permission to pause and experience the goodness in our lives, here and now. Gratitude can help us cultivate mindfulness and ground us in the present moment. It allows us see the joy and beauty that is already here. It allows us feel connected to ourselves and those we love. It helps us remember what matters, what gives life meaning. As often as you can throughout the day, notice all the things in your life that bring you joy. The beauty of nature, the sound of laughter, the warmth of a hug, the smell of the rain, the taste of your favorite food. Appreciating life through our senses helps us connect with what it feels like to be alive in this moment.
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