GRATITUDE ISN’T FAKE, BUT YOUR EXCUSES MIGHT BE!

What makes Gratitude such a powerful practice?

For me, it’s simple. Years ago, a simple Gratitude list sparked a spiritual awakening within me unlike anything I had ever experienced, eventually changing me from the inside out - its presence is so profound that I capitalize it in my writing. Today, it not only grounds me, but it’s the internal compass that helps me put wings on my dreams to “Be Well,” no matter what life throws at me.

Gratitude has a long history across many traditions as a pathway to humility and inner peace. Religions often view it as a duty to God, or the Almighty. Spiritual paths treat it as a practice that builds connection. Philosophers say it improves character and relationships. Research links it to better health, less depression, greater resilience, and more creativity. Over time, it's become clear that a Gratitude practice does more than accompany a fulfilled life; it helps create one.

So why is it so hard to start and maintain a Gratitude journaling practice? Here are the three most common reasons:

 1) “It feels unrealistic.” When things go wrong, being told to focus on what's going right can feel like ignoring the problem. Wrong - focusing on the good doesn’t deny the problem. It actually helps build the strength you need to face it.

 2) “It’s just one more item on my already overflowing to-do list.” When time is tight, a journal is often the first thing you drop. But here’s what you don't know - spending a few minutes each day listing what you’re grateful for can actually save time. Your list is where transformation begins - where the gifts of Gratitude magically show up on the page. One gift is better focus, which leads to better time management.

3) “It doesn’t produce immediate results.” Any habit that truly supports your well-being builds slowly. Many people quit because they expect instant results, and when they don’t get them, they assume it doesn’t work. But every habit, good or bad, takes time to form, and time to change.

If you’re reluctant to start a Gratitude list, I get it. But I’d ask you one question: “Is your current approach to wellness working? Are you happy with the results?”

 If your answer is “Yes,” a little Gratitude will enhance what you're already doing in unimaginable ways. If ‘No,’ a list is the perfect place to start.

Here’s this week's small change takeaway: Gratitude journaling isn’t about pretending everything is perfect. It’s simply noticing the good, even on imperfect days, and allowing it to shift your thinking about what it means to “Be Well, regardless of the circumstances.

So, here are three journaling prompts to work on this week that I hope get you started:

1.  List one thing that’s going wrong right now. Now, list three things that are going well. Repeat this for the next seven days and see how it makes you feel.

2.  Set a timer for two minutes and list everything you’re grateful for. Afterward, write one sentence about a "gift" that showed up on the list - a surprise, a moment of focus or calm, or something that made you smile.

3. Think of a recent difficult moment and sum it up in two sentences. Then list every person, place, and thing that helped you get through it. What lesson did you learn? What gifts showed up on your list?

In all things be Grateful; Be Well!

Need help getting started on your Gratitude journey? Contact me at: smallchange@myrtlerussell.com

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