Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer.
-Maya Angelou
How often do you slow down or stop to appreciate everything around you? “Moment to pause” is another DBT skill that can be valuable here1. When you go to sleep, do you think about all of the things that went well that day, or are you engrossed in upsetting parts or worried about unknowns for tomorrow? Pause peacefully, and reflect rightly.
If you want to take this nightly practice one step further, a respected leader in my life taught me the following acronym. Before bedtime or as you are settling down for the evening, think through what all from that day you are GLAD for. What is at least one thing from today that you are Grateful for, at least one thing from today that you Learned, at least one thing from today that you Achieved, and, lastly, what Delighted you today? :)
In the end, I believe we should learn to be grateful for everything in our life. Uplifting moments are easy, but downtrodden experiences can be difficult to grapple with and truly express gratitude for. Reflecting on those tough times, though, can yield positive lessons and results if we are willing to put in work. If we improve our ability to practice gratitude for all of it, then we can figure out how to live our best lives. What a valuable first step to begin a journey towards feeling and valuing gratitude. Good job; good luck.
Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues,
but the parent of all the others.
-Cicero
Gratitude can provide a sturdy foundation for your bridge in your lane. Trust it. As you incrementally increase your feelings of appreciation, you will begin to see and value the importance of other virtues, too. Take a step in this direction. How does it make you feel? Can you establish more contentment and acceptance for your current circumstances?
Here is one sugjestion that you can try – replace “I’m sorry” with “thank you.” Instead of saying “sorry I’m late”, substitute “thank you for waiting for me.” This shift in approach and mindset can begin the building of more gratitude in your life. Another sugjestion – how often do some take their hot showers for granted? When did you last try a cold shower? If you try one, then it can remind you of something that you may have started taking for granted quite some time ago. You can find or rediscover joy and appreciation in some, if not all, of the small things. Begin to see the brighter side of life; it is there if you look. It can be difficult to find at times, but I promise you that it is there. Care, and share.
Gratitude wakes us up to the goodness and beauty in life.
But we have to choose it.
-Tamara Levitt
Choo-choo-choose gratitu-u-uude :) <3
Maybe it is wise. Maybe it is dumb. Time will tell.