Gratitude
Full moon, May 2023
Recently I had a health scare, and while the information made me scared for the future and what will be, it most of all made me appreciate my body and my health this far; I suddenly felt deep gratitude for my health, for all the things my body has put up with and got me through.
At the same time, I felt angry at myself for putting my body through hard times like my anorexia, pushing myself further (possibly than it would be healthy) in sports situations, being harsh on my body for not “bouncing back” to my pre-pregnancy self, and the list goes on.
The old recognition of “you only realise what you have, once it is gone” hit me and I began to reflect on gratitude from a different perspective, a deeper, possibly more meaningful one than before;
When we practise gratitude our behavior and mindset can be affected and changed for the better. If I would have practised real gratitude in the past, would I have put my body, my temple through all those things that were damaging and unhealthy or would I have chosen to think and act from a place of love?
Here are some prompts to include a little gratitude into your day, appreciate it all while you have and experience it, it is a much nicer version of gratitude than that coming from a place of mourning for the things that have been.
Morning gratitude:
Before you begin your day, list 3-5 things you are grateful for in this moment.
People I am grateful for:
List 1-3 people that have made your life a little happier today, these could be anyone, a close friend, family or even a stranger.
The best part of my day:
Choose one moment out of your day today that you truly enjoyed. Focus on this moment for a few minutes and write it down in your journal. This is best done right before going to bed.
Ideas around gratitude journaling:
You can jot these down in a diary you specifically dedicate to your gratitude, or you can make a gratitude jar. Fill the jar with little moments of happiness, when it is full, you can empty the jar and read them either to yourself or share with someone.
The second option is a great option for couples or families and can be turned into a New Years tradition.
