We hear a lot about gratitude this time of year. It is easy to feel gratitude on the big events in life: the touch of a newborn, a positive medical result, getting a new job. Those events wash over us with gratefulness.
We often, however, miss the everyday things to be grateful for: the smile of a stranger, the smell of baking cookies, the twinkle of a star. Those mini moments are also events that can bring gratefulness to our lives. Too often we overlook them.
It has been shown that people who recognize the things they are grateful for in their lives actually change the limbic system of their brain. When we express gratitude and receive gratitude, our brain releases dopamine and serotonin, the two crucial neurotransmitters responsible for our emotions. This enhances our mood as well as re-wires our brain to be happier. And who doesn’t want to be happier?
So, my challenge to you is to start a daily gratitude journal. At the end of the day, write 3 – 5 things you are grateful for that occurred that day. Review that list when you wake up in the morning and start your day on a positive note. Commit to doing this for 3 weeks and see what changes you experience. And then keep doing it.
Each of us has one precious life – let’s be grateful for that gift.
Written by: Pat Mater
About the Author
Pat Mater
Vice President & Executive Coach, Robertson Lowstuter, Inc.
Pat Mater is an accomplished executive coach and valued business partner who guides executives and their teams to maximize their contributions to their organizations. Pat combines coaching and consulting skills with an extensive background in leadership development, training and development, team building, interpersonal growth, and employee relations. Read Full Bio
