Many years ago I started a gratitude journal. All humans are bound to suffer sometime during their lifetime, and I felt like I’d been through some hard times. So at the end of each day, I would record ten items for which I could be grateful. A variety of things ended up on these pages. Some were small things that happened during the day like finding a quick parking spot; some were major, like gratitude for a loved one or for my health; most were just ordinary things that I felt lucky to receive like a hug from a client, a midday phone call from a family member, rain on a hot day. Over time, I began to view life events differently. Instead of focusing on the day’s trials or disappointments, I searched for moments of gratitude. Rather than waiting until the end of the day to write in my journal, I whispered thank you right there on the spot. Spontaneous gratitude became a habit.
This technique isn’t new, and I’m not the first one to write about it. But if you want to make an adjustment in your attitude and haven’t yet given it a try, I recommend that you do. It might change the way you look at the world.
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