Ignore the Apocalypse, Experience Gratitude
“For all that has been, thanks; for all that will be, yes!”
Wars. Work. College. Ill-expectations.
What do these have in common? All induce stress. If you are a person living in the 21st century, the constant bombardment of information on the internet is nothing new; yet, sometimes, if not oftentimes, it can be emotionally overwhelming; thereby, increasing your susceptibility to anxiety and a variety of mental disorders down the road. Especially in today’s age of information wars and the internet’s dominance in daily life, the presence of despair, doom, and dissatisfaction seem ever-looming.
So, it is becoming ever-more paramount for people to take on practices that help circulate happiness and contentment with not only themselves but the people unfortunate to be around a Debbie Downer.
Enter Gratitude.
Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.
Politics. Climate change. World hunger. The list goes on.
Despite being so young (at the ripe age of 12 or so), I remember having an “enlightenment” phase— where I started grabbing all of the books, articles, and other written mediums I could get my hands on — and having my first encounter with independent study. With so many different avenues of life opening up to my prepubescent self — culture, people, history— I also learned things that altered my personality to become bitter, angry, and close-minded.
While, certainly, there are issues that need to be talked about— and I am not suggesting at all to shove them to the periphery —long exposure to these topics of discussion can quickly turn one’s cheerful mood into a spiral of misery. Instead, look at the issues through the lens of deep self-introspection and gratitude. Truly see the value of the things you have right now and you will gain a better sense of empathy. For example, to understand world hunger, one must first understand and relish the food he or she has. Despite the clichè “to put yourself in one’s shoes,” it gets the point across that you won’t understand unless you experience it yourself.
Take a moment to heed and ponder these questions of my former teacher, Kevin Carroll, who authored the book A Moment’s Pause for Gratitude:
It’s so easy to take people for granted… How often do we pause in gratitude for the gift of our eyesight, our ability to walk, or for the educational opportunities we’ve had in our life? How often are we consciously grateful for the love of our parents, family members, and friends?
For Only Ten Minutes…
Surprisingly, there are many benefits to just… being grateful. Research shows that cultivating gratitude leads to long-term happiness, restorative relationships, and most importantly, a healthy state of mind.
In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.
For only 10 minutes, a person could drastically improve their mood and even outlook on life, if done routinely. Ideally, this practice should be done at the end of the day as a means of meditating on said day.
- Breathe in and out intently. As the octagon takes shape, take a deep, oral breath. As the polygon collapses, breathe out through your nose. Do it for 30 seconds — or one minute to really decompress.
2. Next, shut down your devices. Grab a piece of paper and a writing utencil. For a minute or two, rate your day on a scale of 1–10 — how was your day? Was it stressful? Did you do your best to be productive; whilst, at the same time, maintaining your physical and mental wellbeing? Did you get to hug your loved ones? Did you eat?
3. Next, for a minute or two, write a brief ‘thank-you’ letter— one to five sentences — cherishing the people and their degree of impact on your life. Above all else, don’t forget to thank yourself.
4. If time allows, walk outside. Subsisting in the affectionate hands of nature is a remedy in itself. Research shows that exposure to nature increases cognizance, mental stability, and relaxation.
One Small Step At a Time
Look, the world is in a pretty — dare I say — shitty place right now. At the time of this writing, the world is juggling multiple humanitarian crises, wars, and social upheavals that are emerging globally. But, as a global community trying to uplift the human experience, truth be told that nothing will be achieved or fixed with a despondent, thankless attitude. Only when we succeed emotionally can we take the next steps in tackling the greater problems of humankind.
So believe me when I say that we can make Earth a better place not with pitchforks and swords, but with smiles never-ending. :)
