Gratitude is Contagious

You've heard them say a million times to have an attitude of gratitude, but what does this mean, and can it work for you?

It can work for you if you're human, and I hope you are.

What is Gratitude?

Google defines gratitude as the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.

So, telling someone to have an attitude of gratitude is an appealing way of saying, "Practice being grateful."

You might ask, "What's there to be grateful for?" There's so much hate in the world, food prices are climbing, and viruses seem to be taking over the planet. How can anyone think of gratitude at a time like this?

The truth is that it takes work for anyone to be grateful. As human beings, we tend to focus on the negatives, all that we don't have and how perfect we want our lives to be, but it isn't. In all the mental chaos, we bury the positives, overlook all that we already have, and block out everything that is already good in our lives. As a result, our daily conversations leave others feeling drained, thinking that we're inconsiderate and ungrateful simply because of what we focus on and how we express our feelings about our current situation.

I remember a conversation with a "friend" a few years ago when we bought a three-bedroom house to accommodate our two children and us. Two months after moving in, I was pregnant with our third child. In a conversation, I mentioned that I was pregnant and that two of our kids would have to share a room. My "friend" got upset and told me I should be grateful that I had a house and that she knew a woman with four children living in a one-bedroom apartment.

The next day, her social media posts were all about gratitude and saying that some people don't know how good they have it. I didn't understand why she was so upset. I wasn't mad or complaining; I was stating a fact.

It took some time, but I started looking at things differently. Seeing the glass as half-full instead of half-empty made a considerable difference in how I looked at and spoke about things.

After all, the Bible tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18(NIV) to "give thanks in all circumstances." Not when things are good, and there's nothing to worry about; we must be thankful for EVERYTHING.

Now, you're asking yourself, how can I practice gratitude when my life seems to be at a standstill, and the little that I have is falling apart?

You may need a new habit: Practice gratitude daily.

Here are three things that you can do to start practicing gratitude daily.

1. THINK ABOUT IT

Think about all the good things in your life and around you. There are two sides to everything. Up and down, good and bad, negative and positive. It's up to you to choose how you want to look at the situation. Even when there seems to be more bad than good, focus on what's good, and the bad will be much more tolerable.

For example, you might be thinking,

Your kid is sick (Bad). You have to miss work (Bad). You won't get paid (Bad). All this can be very stressful, but you can look on the bright side.

You get to spend time with your kid and be their hero, even for a day(Good).

2. TAKE IT ALL IN

How does it make you feel when you stop and think of all the good/positive things around you? When you realize that life isn't as bad as it seems, and you can choose what you give your attention to. After all, the seeds that you water are the ones that will grow.

So, get yourself a gratitude journal, and every day, write down three things you're grateful for. Don't overthink it. Just keep it simple (clean air, eyesight, front teeth etc.). Reflecting on these three things throughout the day will help you to remain calm and carefree and less likely to be affected by the negative around you.

3. SHARE IT

When you take the time to appreciate the things in your life, it makes it easier to express gratitude to others. You've heard it said before that caring is sharing and vice versa, so start by letting the people around you know how much they mean to you and how grateful you are to be a part of their lives.

You can do this by verbally expressing yourself. Give compliments and verbal rewards(especially to kids) for a job well done or a cute outfit. After all, we need that extra boost to remind us that we are appreciated and our efforts are recognized.

Send an email or a handwritten note expressing your sentiments to a teacher, coworker, or boss. Not only will you make their day, but it will also give you that warm fuzzy feeling as you genuinely add value to another person's life.

Give a gift for no particular reason. It doesn't have to be expensive, and it doesn't have to be a special occasion for you to give a blessing to someone.

Volunteer at your local church or food bank, or spend time with family and friends. No one knows what tomorrow holds, so make the best of your available time by sharing it with others.

Since gratitude is contagious, ask yourself how you could show gratitude today. Showing sincere gratitude will never go unnoticed.