Just posted on gratitude today, one of my 5 under valued characteristics! Great post enjoyed the read, I am aiming to keep track of my gratitude throughout the new year, as in previous years I merely practiced it without writing it down.
It is absolutely the micro-moments, as you call them, the ordinary-extraordinary details that so often pass unnoticed, that make a difference. I'd say that not only does a gratitude practice have incredible power to improve a life, but it cannot help but make one a better writer, because it is the practice of attention.
Mary Oliver wrote "Instructions for living a life: 1. pay attention. 2. be astonished. 3. tell me about it". I often tell my students that these are the exact instructions I would give for writing a life as well. And - I think the 'be astonished' part, is what gratitude is. It's essential to notice, because everything starts there... but if you are not astonished - if you do not find the wonder (which stems from or leads to gratitude) then you don't have much of anything magical to tell me about.
And I truly think that when we take the time to give ourselves over to this practice, everything changes.
My favorite part of this was “it doesn’t have to be camouflaged by toxic positivity or looking on the bright side. You are allowed to show up however you feel and however you are.” I needed that because I’ve had a journaling/gratitude practice that I did in the mornings when I woke up at 5am & before bed at night but some days it was a lot. Getting myself and toddler ready each morning and then night, there was always so much to do that sometimes I did everything but my practice and I was hard on myself. I did everything I had to and not the things I wanted to do, for myself, like journaling because I needed to get some sleep in. So I’m going to get back into this and remember that I am not perfect, nothing is or ever will be. I gotta stop being so hard on myself. Things shift. & that’s ok.
Such a wonderful practice. Thank you for sharing. I especially appreciate the acknowledgement that we may not always have flowery, wonderful thoughts at the end of the day. It's ok to be real. It's also rewarding to find even the simplest things to be grateful for.
There is scientific research that shows how we can positively 'change' our brain by practicing gratitude as a habit. You are on to something!
I used to write 100 things I was thankful for, most days. I’d leave my pad on my desk and just jot down things during the day. It was okay when things/people/events were repeated. But there were always new things to be grateful for. I like the photos of yours where there are just one to three or so things stated each day. I’m going to try that, starting today, 1/1/2023. Thank you.
Just posted on gratitude today, one of my 5 under valued characteristics! Great post enjoyed the read, I am aiming to keep track of my gratitude throughout the new year, as in previous years I merely practiced it without writing it down.
https://modernancient.substack.com/p/better-men-5-personality-traits-that
It is absolutely the micro-moments, as you call them, the ordinary-extraordinary details that so often pass unnoticed, that make a difference. I'd say that not only does a gratitude practice have incredible power to improve a life, but it cannot help but make one a better writer, because it is the practice of attention.
Mary Oliver wrote "Instructions for living a life: 1. pay attention. 2. be astonished. 3. tell me about it". I often tell my students that these are the exact instructions I would give for writing a life as well. And - I think the 'be astonished' part, is what gratitude is. It's essential to notice, because everything starts there... but if you are not astonished - if you do not find the wonder (which stems from or leads to gratitude) then you don't have much of anything magical to tell me about.
And I truly think that when we take the time to give ourselves over to this practice, everything changes.
My favorite part of this was “it doesn’t have to be camouflaged by toxic positivity or looking on the bright side. You are allowed to show up however you feel and however you are.” I needed that because I’ve had a journaling/gratitude practice that I did in the mornings when I woke up at 5am & before bed at night but some days it was a lot. Getting myself and toddler ready each morning and then night, there was always so much to do that sometimes I did everything but my practice and I was hard on myself. I did everything I had to and not the things I wanted to do, for myself, like journaling because I needed to get some sleep in. So I’m going to get back into this and remember that I am not perfect, nothing is or ever will be. I gotta stop being so hard on myself. Things shift. & that’s ok.
Today I feel energized and open for new things.
Me too!❤️
Tonight I will start my gratitude practice. I am so excited. Thank you for inspiring me Alex
Such a wonderful practice. Thank you for sharing. I especially appreciate the acknowledgement that we may not always have flowery, wonderful thoughts at the end of the day. It's ok to be real. It's also rewarding to find even the simplest things to be grateful for.
There is scientific research that shows how we can positively 'change' our brain by practicing gratitude as a habit. You are on to something!
Happy New Year!
I use gratitude for many reasons. It's an amazing antidote to "chronic dissatisfaction".
I love Martha Beck too!
I used to write 100 things I was thankful for, most days. I’d leave my pad on my desk and just jot down things during the day. It was okay when things/people/events were repeated. But there were always new things to be grateful for. I like the photos of yours where there are just one to three or so things stated each day. I’m going to try that, starting today, 1/1/2023. Thank you.
Beautiful. Gratitude journaling helped me so much with neural rewiring, and also got me writing everyday! It's medicine x