Hello beautiful souls!
Today’s focus will be on gratitude. It’s interesting—I’ve only been cultivating gratitude since mid-2022, when a friend introduced it to me as part of her spiritual practice. Since then, I’ve diligently written down both the small and big things I’m grateful for each day using an app (which I highly recommend: it’s called Gratitude). However, I’ve noticed that sometimes it feels more like a task to check off my to-do list rather than a meaningful practice.
During my university days, I’ve written a research paper on how gratitude has one of the highest correlations with well-being. However, the true power of gratitude lies in cultivating a genuine feeling of appreciation, rather than just listing things we’re grateful for. It could be something as significant as landing a new job you’ve been hoping for or as simple as enjoying a cup of tea. This week, I have plenty to be grateful for: my ability to balance and go with the flow, a lovely catchup with a dear friend, and my lovely cat who has been my companion for a decade.
But more than the list, it’s the feeling of contentment that arises when you slow down, stop, and notice what’s going well in your life. It’s a realization that the words you’re reading now are just signposts. Sometimes, gratitude evolves into a deeper appreciation for the present while striving to do your best for the future—and that’s perfectly okay!
Here’s a simple tip to access the feeling: Take a few deep breaths and tune into your five senses. Look around and appreciate what you already have. Sometimes, focusing on the tangible things around us is the easiest way to acknowledge the good in our lives.
As you cultivate this habit, start to observe your present situation—perhaps the people in your life, your ability to walk, eat, sleep, and more. With time, you might even find gratitude for past challenges, seeing them as detours that ultimately guided you in the right direction.
Till next time, cheerio!