Practice. . .
Practicing more gratitude (like any other initiative) is prone to fail if you just go through the motions. Here are 4 ways you can help promote and express more authentic gratitude in your moments.
Be grateful for the good, the bad and the ugly – Sometimes, gratitude workplace initiatives can feel like old recognition programs warmed over. To avoid this feeling, focus on social worth and think about how people have made a difference. Give thanks for people’s willingness, enthusiasm, commitment, or efforts — not just their impact on the bottom line.
Customize your gratitude – Practicing gratitude in life requires thinking about how you approach people, the holidays and work. Tailoring your approach to gratitude may not seem natural but most things we must learn are, well, not natural. We should approach our gratitude like any new skill and be willing to learn along the way, make mistakes, not feel grateful at all and many other situations. The important skill is to sew present and have gratitude as the big umbrella that covers all our moments and helps us learn more on those days when we feel defeated or irritated.
Be appreciative – We live in a world full of abundance. Most of us have access to everything we need and much of what we desire. Yet many people are very dissatisfied with their lives. Instead of getting into the never ending cycle of always wanting more and being critical of everyone, try a little gratitude.
Don’t fake it – Authentic growth and showing vulnerability are key parts of gratitude. If you can’t think of anything you’re truly grateful for, don’t try to fake it. Instead take a position of learning, tell yourself you will get it eventually, you do and will have so much more to be thankful for once your open your eyes to the practice of gratitude. Like many lessons you have to start, try and grow with each step you take.
It is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful. The more grateful we are, the more beauty we see. Gratitude for the present moment and the fullness of life now is the true gift of the holidays.
Peace and Love, Jim
#practice #thedailybuddha
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