When I bring on a new coaching client, I try to assess where they are at in their personal journey. One of the first things I bring up is gratitude. I asked them to define gratitude for me and I asked for them to give me a gratitude list of all the things they are grateful for and the things they hope to one day be grateful for. Regardless of our personal background and or current situation, there is always something we can be grateful for. It may take us a minute to find it, or we may dig a little deeper than usual to locate it, but it is always there. If there is no other reason to be grateful than the fact that we woke up this morning here is a wonderful place to start. Let us look at gratitude and see what we discover.
Gratitude; the quality or feeling of being grateful or thankful
Grateful; warmly or deeply appreciative of kindness or benefits received; thankful
From Late Latin grātitūdō which is thankfulness, and again from the Latin grātus which is thankful or pleasing (the above definitions are from dictionary.com)
The importance of becoming grateful is far greater than most of us can appreciate especially when we are new to or resisting recovery. In the beginning, we are often too angry, frustrated, or confused to recognize how vital gratitude is in our lives.
When we stop to think about it no matter the situation most of us will ever be in it is better than the alternative. In other words, sometimes we must be grateful that even though it is not how I would like it to be it is better than it could be or what my actions left me open to.
Sometimes recognizing reasons to be grateful is as simple as considering someone who is suffering or going through a trial more difficult than ours. Sometimes we just must stop being selfish while thinking that the world revolves around me.
We must learn to become grateful, or our chance of true long-lasting sobriety will not come to us. We need to learn to be grateful for things we previously overlooked and move toward more significant things. As we grow in our recovery then we can begin to appreciate the bigger things as they come to us.
Below are compare and contrasts that we must choose daily if we are to get or remain Happy, Joyous, and Free.
Gratitude: I will find the reasons to be joyful
Bad Attitude: Will take away any joy I possess
Gratitude: I will find something positive in everything or situation
Bad Attitude: It will make everything lousy, even the good
Gratitude: I will find small reasons to be satisfied and content
Bad Attitude: I will become the person never satisfied
Gratitude: Grateful and other positive people will want to be around me
Bad Attitude: Will drive positive from me and I will only attract negativity
Gratitude: I will build up those around me and be of greater service
Bad Attitude: I will corrupt and pollute those around me
Gratitude: I will be a positive role model to my family and those I love
Bad Attitude: I will negatively affect all those around me
For those of us who suffer from addiction, the difference can be even more dramatic and serious than those I have listed above. For me and others, I have known over the years the depth, level, and length of my sobriety is measured in direct proportion to my gratitude.
Gratitude will always bring me more than a bad attitude. Gratitude gives life, joy, peace, serenity, and a sense of personal reward. A bad attitude can only make something simple seem hard and the hard impossible to bear.
Below is a sample Gratitude List. If you do not make a list every day consider starting one today. It will change the way you feel about yourself, others around you, and even the personal situation you are in right now.
Today I am grateful…
- that where I was is not where I am
- for soft, warm blankets, sweaters, and jackets
- that I am getting more comfortable with the ‘what anyone thinks of me is none of my business’ thing
- that I have my needs supplied today. A warm bed, shelter, adequate clothing, shoes, medicines, sobriety, recovery, hugs, smiles, songs, laughs, a higher power, people to whom I can say ‘I love you’ and mean it
- for rearranged thoughts
My Daily Gratitude
Will Determine My Daily Altitude