Prescription 2 (Practising Gratitude in life)
We have frequently witnessed folks lamenting the unsuccessful aspects of their lives. You will get the impression from hearing their stories that they have had problems all of their lives. Do keep in mind that these are folks that are financially secure, have access to food, and are rather well-off! Just give it a thought what causes people to solely consider the negative aspects of what they lack in life.
Let me tell you a tale about two friends. One becomes a successful entrepreneur but continues to remain single and unmarried. The other gets married, leaves her job after having children. When they first meet, both of them feel envious of the other’s abundance and lack in their own lives. One thinks, “My friend is independent, she can do whatever she wants, that’s the life I wanted!” The other person wonders, “What do I not give up simply to have a relationship in my life when my friend is happily married and has a lovely family. Will that time ever arrive?
Take a look at life’s ironies. Although each of their lives is abundant in its own way, they are too busy to recognise it because they are so focused on the absence.
Everybody encounters this in life. We are all experts at calculating our poor luck and missed opportunities. But we often overlook our blessings, the opportunities that came our way, and the things that went our way.
This is where our second prescription plays a major role in navigating from Worrisome to Awesomeness! A lifelong practise of gratitude can help you become aware of your blessings and cultivate the mindset required to make the best of them. Gratitude makes it easier to recognise the abundance in life, and each time we do, our self-assurance, trust, and happiness gradually increase. Most importantly, gratitude helps us to develop a positive outlook on life.
Being grateful helps you remember all the positive things in your life and focuses your attention on what you have rather than what you lack. It’s a gamechanger in life! Gratitude helps to be in the present moment than fretting about the future or rehashing the past.
Here is a small story of a seed which grew into a big oak tree.
A tiny seed was dispersed alongside other seeds on the earth one pleasant, windy Autumn day. Then there was a brief downpour. Then a dog came by, walked on it, and drove it into the dirt far below.
It was soiled and slimy. The seeds around it were laughing at it! They laughed at the seed’s misfortune in being stuck and filthy. The seed was only happy to be alive and was looking forward to its future while it awaited the next the event.
Birds began to eat the remaining seeds on the ground later in the morning. No bird touched it since it was firmly rooted to the earth.
Yes, throughout its early stages of development, it battled a little in the filth before gradually reaching the sunlight. The tiny seed that had been stuck in the mud started to grow slowly but gradually, and eventually it developed into a big, strong tall tree! It was still grateful of the incident that left it soiled and glued to the ground on the fateful day.
This tiny seed was given life and nurtured to flourish owing to the attitude of gratitude. Even we will get knocked to the ground or caught in the wind in life, but can we hold on, be grateful, and look ahead to what lies ahead, curiously?
Cultivating gratitude is a habit and it requires effort! It’s not something that will come naturally to most of us.
Let’s see how can we practise gratitude in a day to day life:
· Can we take five minutes each morning when we wake to recognise and express our gratitude for being alive?
· Can we show gratitude to those who prepare the food we eat
· Irrespective of how big or small, can we be thankful for our home and other material possessions?
· Can we express our gratitude for the assistance provided by the housekeepers, drivers, and other extended support?
· Can we express our gratitude for our friends and family before turning in for the night?
· Can we show gratitude to nature, which supplies all we need to live and thrive?
· Can we notice good things around us and appreciate, however small it may be!
· Keep a gratitude journal and keep adding to them
You can include this as a to-do list in your routine and remind yourself each day to tick it off. You can also keep adding your own items to the list or make it extensive. Try it for a month and observe how your mindset, actions, and thoughts change. Please share your thoughts on the topic!
