GRATITUDE – HOW TO DEAL WITH IT?

When gratitude is not your thing

Gratitude can be a complex and delicate matter, especially if our lives don’t align with our desired trajectory and you already have negative associations with the concept of gratitude. Why negative associations, you may wonder? Well, for some individuals, their childhood experiences involved being told to be grateful for various things, often accompanied by a dismissive attitude towards their genuine emotions. As a result, the mere mention of “gratitude” can trigger annoyance and resistance.

When you hear “be grateful” way too often

I can personally relate to this, as I, too, heard a lot about gratitude during my own upbringing, which at some point left me simply frustrated. There was even a time when I would roll my eyes at the mere mention of the word “gratitude”. However, over the years, through continuous learning, reading, and introspection, even I had to admit that there’s something about gratitude. There are moments in life, especially during challenging times, when a dose of appreciation for the positive aspects can be incredibly beneficial. When we find ourselves fixating solely on what’s going wrong, it becomes challenging to maintain our inner calm and overall well-being. It’s a simple truth – we cannot thrive in such a state.

How to deal with gratitude?

But how do we reconcile with the word “gratitude” when it triggers our skepticism, just as it did for me? I’ve discovered that by reframing the expression from “I’m grateful for…” to “It’s nice that…” or “It’s really cool that…”, it becomes much easier for me to cultivate the healthy habit of expressing gratitude. This small shift in language has truly made a significant difference in my ability to embrace gratitude. It helped me deal with gratitude.

If you find yourself scoffing at the mere idea of gratitude while reading this article, I invite you to give it a try. Maybe you can even playfully stamp your foot in frustration. Surprisingly, it can actually help at times. I assure you, it seriously works.

By allowing ourselves to explore and cultivate gratitude in our lives, we open the door to a newfound appreciation for the positive aspects, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant. It’s a transformative practice that can lead to greater contentment, resilience, and overall well-being. So, let’s embark on this journey together and discover the power of gratitude in our lives.

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