An Attitude of Gratitude!

As I write these words, it’s cold and rainy at 5:30am in Atlanta. My dog I'm petting sitting for has had me up four times to go out during the night and I’ve had very little consistent sleep. Why, I ask myself, did I choose to write about “An Attitude of Gratitude” this morning? 

The truth is, I didn’t choose to write about gratitude. Gratitude choose me to write about it. Dr. Angeles Arrien wrote a powerful book called “Living in Gratitude: A Journey That Will Change Your Life.” In that book, we are reminded that the word gratitude has its roots in the Latin word for “gift.” Gratitude is the act of acknowledging the good things received in life from a source outside ourselves, which brings me back to this rainy morning. What do I have to be grateful for?

On this cold and rainy morning, I’m in a beautiful home which is warm and dry. Even though it’s way too early, I have an opportunity to write what I hope are meaningful words to you, my reader. Later this morning I will drive to a networking luncheon in a warm car and enjoy the company of a group of business associates with whom I share lunch every Friday. Later today I’ll spend time with two hypnosis clients as we explore the changes they wish to make in their lives. 

All of these are reasons to express gratitude for the gifts I have received. Even as I write these words, I can feel my attitude shifting. Gratitude is shifting my focus from the cold, the rain and my demanding pet to the gifts that contribute to my life this very day. 

“An Attitude of Gratitude” is a part of every hypnosis session I conduct. In every session, I speak these words to the subconscious mind of my client: “I want you now to see yourself siting in a chair right in front of you. Yes, you are looking at you. Now, I want you to speak these words to you: Thank you. Thank you for being here today. Thank you for all of the things you’ve done that have brought you to this very day. An attitude of gratitude.”

An attitude of gratitude to ourselves enables us to recognize and celebrate our imperfections, to give ourselves a break from the constant judgments we put on ourselves, to admit that we may not be what we desire to be, but we’re not what we once were, either. 

I invite you to pause right now…to ponder the answers to this question: For what can you express an attitude of gratitude this very moment? Yes, your situation probably has more than your share of challenges. There are things in your life you’d like to be different. But, right this very moment, what one thing can you express an attitude of gratitude? 

My attitude of gratitude this very moment includes you. I am grateful for you, that you allow me each month to enter into your life as you read my words. You and I have never met and probably never will, yet, here we are, sharing time together. For that, I am grateful. 

Perhaps today will be a good day to tell someone in your life how grateful you are they are in your life. Tell your child, your spouse, your boss, your employee, your neighbor, even your pets! Express an attitude of gratitude to the grocery store checkout guy or gal, to the police officer coming out of QT on his or her way to her assignment for the day, to the person who holds the door for you at a store, the driver who lets you change lanes. 

On and on we could go as we become aware of the numerous opportunities we have each day to acknowledge the gifts we are given, often by total strangers. Express an attitude of gratitude three times today and, I guarantee that you’ll be a little happier than you are right now.