Gratitude. When Less is More.

You’re probably thinking you don’t need to hear one more thing about gratitude. Everywhere you turn people are telling you how important it is to be grateful. You get it. Thank you!

You probably know that being grateful won’t just make you feel better. It will impact others around you as well. It’ll improve your relationships. Boost your self-esteem as well as your physical and mental health.

So the more the better, right?

Well … yes … and … no.

Thinking about all the things you’re grateful for, and expressing your gratitude can do wonders for you. But I’ve noticed that we can treat gratitude the way we treat many things in life. We rush through it – stating all the things we’re grateful, racing to the end of the list. We jam gratitude into a practice because we think we should, and we do it without really experiencing it. Like “I love you”, we can say it without feeling it.

Maybe that’s not your experience, but if you’re curious whether less could be more for you, try these two different ways:

1. Gratitude of Many:

• Notice how you’re feeling right now and say three words that describe it.
• Now think of all the things you’re grateful for.
• Say them out loud if you can. (Otherwise make a list silently in your mind).
• Stop once you’ve listed all the things you can think of.
• Now notice how you feel. Use three words to describe it. 

You’ll probably notice a change in how you feel because gratitude opens your heart and gets you in touch with the love inside you.

2. One Gratitude:

• Notice how you’re feeling right now and say three words that describe it.
• Think of one thing you’re grateful for. JUST ONE.
• Have you got it? Can you see it in your mind?
• Say why you’re grateful for that.
• What difference does it make in your life? Be as explicit as you can.
• How does that difference make you feel? Feel it and describe it. (even if you just describe it silently in your mind)
• After you’ve done that, notice how you feel right now. 

For me, feeling the depth and breadth of just one thing for which I’m grateful easily shifts my energy, mood, and being in a profound way. I’m very interested to hear what works best for you.

If you liked the One Gratitude practice feel free to try it every night before you go to bed. It’s a simple way to ease into sleep.

I’ve just started sharing simple practices like this and others you won’t find here, on Instagram, so feel free to come join me over there.