For a long time, gratitude was just a spiritual buzzword to me. I knew, logically, that it was a good thing to be grateful. I knew, logically, of its power and importance. But if I’m honest, there was a part of me that thought it was kind of cheesy. I thought it was elementary spirituality; far too simple to be worthwhile.
My judgement kept me from actually practicing gratitude. Nevertheless, I succumbed eventually, when the pain was great enough.
A little over a year ago my mental health was at an all-time low and I was desperate to escape my bouts of severe depression.
My fiancé had started a consistent gratitude practice. Every single morning he would make a list of 10 things he was grateful for. His action inspired me to follow suit. Over time, this morning list became such a habit that I would feel off if I didn’t write it.
We made a private Facebook group so that others could share their lists as well. The group now has almost 300 people in it. It’s so helpful to see other people’s gratitude because it makes you think of things you never would of thought up on your own.
This simple (so simple, I thought I was above it) act of writing a list each morning has literally changed my brain. What were once frequent bouts of depression are now a rarity.
I was a skeptic, but experience made me a believer. Gratitude is not just a platitude… it’s a life saver.