gratitude

What’s working well for you today?

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“Hi. How are you today?”  It’s a simple greeting in English and the anticipated response is short and sweet, something like:  “good,”  “ok,”  “great,” or on a good day, “awesome!” That’s about the extent of it. The common greeting varies in different countries; for example, “Have you eaten yet?” (parts of China) or “Where are you going?” (Bali)

Imagine if the greeting were something like, “Hi. What’s working well for you today?” or “What are you grateful for today?” What would that stimulate in our conversations and our thinking? I know, it sounds unusual. Though I’m not trying to start a movement for a new greeting, I do like the sound of it.

I encourage you to pose that question to yourself throughout the day: “What’s right with me today?” or “What am I grateful for right now?”

With this question you are guiding your awareness to something that is working, regardless of what else is going on. The intention is not to ignore, bury, or dismiss hardship or pain; rather, in the midst of it all, can you acknowledge that something is probably also working well? Can you find an attitude of gratitude?

Consider an Attitude of Gratitude

  • Can you identify three things in your immediate environment that are working well for you, or that you appreciate?

This is not a trivial practice. According to neuroscience research, the more we remember/ponder pleasant thoughts and experiences, the more they’ll be strengthened in the brain and in our memory. Thoughts of gratitude and appreciation prime parts of the brain that strengthen feelings of joy and contentment.

Three for me right now: 1) I have sight; 2) I have a big glass of clean water in front of me now and access to clean water at any time; 3) my mother is still alive and I’m going to visit her shortly.

“What’s working well for you today?” 

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