Gratitude is a Superpower

We practice gratitude year-round, but we ramp it up this time of year as Thanksgiving, our very favorite holiday, approaches. The simplicity and power in recognizing the good in ordinary, everyday moments is a life-changing practice that keeps us firmly rooted in the present. 

Focusing on the simple pleasures—on the good we are experiencing here, now, today—can do wonders. Otherwise, we can find ourselves defining happiness in terms of some day: “I’ll be happy and grateful when I [fill in the blank]: ace that exam, land that big promotion, buy a new car, move into a new home, or meet that special someone.” Then, I’ll feel happy, grateful, and fulfilled. Some day, as the saying goes, is not a day of the week. And although these life milestones are worthy of celebration, they are no substitute for a foundation of gratitude that leads us to far more consistent happiness. It’s easy to look at the news and think the world is getting worse by the day. Gifted science writer Matthew Ridley provides historical data to the contrary. His 2010 book, “The Rational Optimist” acknowledges that the world is far from perfect, but delivers hard evidence that life is getting better for almost all of humanity. 

By elevating our awareness of what’s right with the world, instead of focusing on what’s wrong, we come to realize that the keys to happiness are all around us.

Personally, we are grateful for water, mountains, freedom, music, road trips, March Madness, laughter, and the chance to take a chance. Above all, we are grateful for our family and friends.

I’m sure that’s why Thanksgiving is our favorite holiday, by far. It’s really a feast of the superpowers: simplicity (stripped of the gifts and excessive hype that can weigh down other holidays), love, of course, and humor among them. But gratitude reins supreme on this holiday. Young and old, everyone gets it: we gather to give thanks.

Three Ways to Make a Gratitude Adjustment

• Give Good Vibes. Is there any substitute for a hand-written note or card of appreciation? Emails and texts work, too. It’s a matter of taking the time to express something beyond the generic, and truly personalizing your authentic gratitude. What comes from the heart goes to the heart. When you share your appreciation for someone’s unique qualities or specific impact on your life, you make yourself and the ones you care about happier. 

• “Get To.”  Use this powerful phrase to reframe the ordinary “have to’s” you might otherwise view as burdens or bland checklist items. We all “get to” be here on this planet in the first place—so much of our experience depends on how we choose to view it. Try placing a jar on the kitchen counter at home, and anytime someone gets caught saying “I have to…” they need to put a dollar in the jar for groceries. Do the same at the office for beer money or a donation to your favorite cause. Gratitude adjustments will follow.

• Celebrate Thanksgiving 365. A natural time for us to pause and give thanks is before we share a meal together, whether it’s a sandwich or a home cooked feast. Take a few deep breaths, hold hands if you like, and share some things you’re grateful for. It helps diffuse stress, reconnect with each other, and prepare our bodies to enjoy whatever vittles lie before us.

This blog post is excerpted and adapted from Life is Good: The Book by Bert and John Jacobs, published by National Geographic on September 1, 2015. Copyright © 2015 The Life is Good Company. Read more in Life is Good: The Book