How to Stop Feeling Like You're Always Swimming Upstream

You know the drill. Somehow every project you begin seems like it's taking more out of you than the last one. All your good intentions? Well, you're beginning to understand the saying, "good intentions pave the road to hell" because you're beginning to feel like you're living in hell.

Just in case you're wondering, there is light at the end of the tunnel. In fact, there's a whole other space you can function in that gives you the opportunity to thrive while you're saving the world. No tunnel of darkness required.

That space is paved with gratitude.

It's on the walls, in the furniture, and in the air you breathe. It's everywhere because it's part of who you are and what you do.

Let me say it in a sentence: The way to stop feeling like you're always swimming upstream is to implement a daily habit of gratitude.

Sounds too simple? Well, it is and it isn't, all at the same time, just like most things that create a shift in mindset.

What is gratitude and why is it so powerful?

Before we get into how gratitude works toward reducing your feelings of overwhelm, let's define what it is and give a few points on why it's so powerful.

While a dictionary definition of gratitude says it is "the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness," in practice it is so much more than that.

To paraphrase Robert Emmons, one of the leading researchers in the field, gratitude is an affirmation of the good things in the world, gifts and benefits we receive, and a recognition that the sources of this goodness are outside of ourselves. This two-part process reminds us that we are all connected to each other and to the world around us, and it fuels a sense of community.

When there is community, there's a lower chance of getting into the "us vs them" mentality which keeps us divided and afraid.

We also see what's happening around us as for our benefit and we shift from thinking things are happening "to us" toward a belief that things are happening "for us."

That alone is a more effective position to operate from, but the power in gratitude goes even further.

What makes gratitude so powerful is the impact it has on our physical bodies. Like all emotions, gratitude works from a chemical perspective and influences mind and body functioning. Research has linked gratitude to the release of serotonin and oxytocin, widely considered the "happiness hormones". So, when we talk about gratitude boosting mood, it quite literally means an infusion of these chemicals into our system that impacts us physically.

Intentional gratitude, therefore, has the unique quality of bridging the mind-body-spirit trifecta that generates such a powerful field of energy around us and within us it transforms our lives for the better.

3 things you can do right now

There are many steps you can take toward including gratitude into your life with more intention. Here are three you can do right now, in this moment and the moments after reading this article.

1. Write down three things you're grateful for. Don't worry if you have to think about it for a moment. You'll come up with three things. Think about the people in your life. Think about your resources. Cast your eyes on what's in your physical environment. Chances are you'll come up with many more than three, but discipline yourself to only write three things for now.
2. Review your schedule and allocate time for writing down your gratitude. You want to document your gratitude so that you can engage your mind-body-spirit in the practice, so take some time to figure out when would be a good time for you to work this new habit (or structure an existing habit) into your routine. Morning before getting out of bed? As soon as you sit at your desk? Think about a time you can devote around 20 minutes to focus on gratitude every day, without interruption.
3. Organize your tools so you'll have what you need in the space you need it. This means getting a dedicated notebook or journal, ensuring that your space is designated, just as your time is. Where will you be doing this writing of gratitudes? What materials do you need? Get them ready and located where you'll be able to access them easily. If you don't have a set journal and you're looking for a guided one, keep following my profile here on LinkedIn. Awesome gratitude journals for productivity coming soon.

So, there you have it. You've now put things in place to implement your gratitude habit. All that's needed is that you get to it. You'll stop feeling like you're swimming upstream faster than you expected.

As simple as this sounds, your commitment to a daily gratitude practice like this is going to bring you clarity in ways beyond what you imagine. Those few minutes of peace, joy, and love every day will clear the clouds and get you swimming with the flow meant to take you toward a vibrant and thriving life.

When you're ready for the next step, send me a message. I'd love to support you through identifying and implementing keystone habits which energize you.

Until then, may your life be filled with enough sunshine to keep you happy and enough rain to help you grow.

In gratitude,

Shelley-Ann

I am an educator, writer, and speaker obsessed with gratitude and how it impacts our human existence. As a Gratitude Guide and Habit Coach my mission is to help ambitious professionals sort through the noise, establish winning habits, and enjoy their journey to success. Feel free to reach out for a chat or to invite me to a podcast or speaking engagement. Subscribe to Getting It Done with Gratitude weekly live on YouTube to never miss an episode on how gratitude can change your life for the better.