Unleashing the Power of Gratitude

Exactly what is the power of gratitude? Or maybe, you’re curious and wondering, “Does gratitude have power? If so, what kind of power?”

Let me ask it another way; a more practical way with apologies to the purists whose feathers might be a bit ruffled by viewing a high and noble, perhaps even spiritual practice through a pragmatic lens. I mean no offense.

What difference does gratitude make?

In the broad sense? At large in the world? And right down to the nitty-gritty of making a difference in your life right now…At this moment as well as the moments that follow?

I believe gratitude holds up to the scrutiny of close examination. 

Rather than ‘cheapening it’ by looking at it pragmatically, we enrich our understanding of it which leads to expanding the place we make for it in our lives, in our work, and most of all, in our world -- a world that is still navigating our way through this current malaise and meltdown all the while desperately searching for a path forward to a better, brighter future.

Gratitude helps us recast the past, reframe the present, and reimagine the future.

 This list is grounded in observation of experiences (and not just mine either), insights that are often crystallized in conversations, and reflections on conversations and experiences. 

Will you join me as together we explore the Power of Gratitude and the difference it makes when we embrace it?

Ten Benefits of Tapping into the Power of Gratitude

1. Gratitude provides a fresh sense of perspective. I’ve heard it said that perspective is the first thing we lose in a crisis. Often in crisis, we are prone to think, or imagine the worst and often engage in hyperbole. All is lost! There is NO hope! This is the worst thing ever! Gratitude helps us see beyond the current crisis. To realize things may not be as dire as we think. And even when things are bad, to realize if we are still alive, there is hope and we can and will get through this current crisis. Gratitude shifts what we see… shifting what we see shifts how we perceive it. 

2. Gratitude provides a sense of wonder and awe. WOW! Friends helped me realize wow is one of my favorite words and has a variety of meanings based on how I say it. WOW, is a natural response to wonder and awe. Living in gratitude helps us see and seize the moments surrounding us that we otherwise miss. Whether it’s birds singing, the sun as it rises or sets, cloud formations, noticing kindness and compassion in action. Gratitude increases our observation and appreciation of the little things. 

3. Gratitude helps us focus. So many things vie for our attention and seek to distract us. Gratitude helps us focus by choosing to look for and find the good even when surrounded by many things that are not-so-good. 

4. Gratitude fuels our perseverance. When we realize that we, or others we know, have made it through challenges and difficulties, it gives us the grit to carry on and persevere rather than throwing in the towel and calling it quits. 

5. Gratitude enhances our overall well-being. Recently, I was with participants in our current session of 30 Days IN the Power of Gratitude and as we reflected on their experience of this journey — an enhanced sense of calm, wellbeing — including getting to sleep faster and better quality of sleep…and we know the impacts of sleep on our health. 

6. Gratitude allows us to connect quickly and deeply with others, even strangers. For two plus years now, I’ve been hosting public gatherings that are grounded in gratitude. Gatherings (now over 200 of them) that either started by inviting people to share gratitude or in the past year when the entire event focused on exploring and expressing gratitude. One of my favorite comments to hear is some variation of this one comment from last December, “we arrived as strangers and left as friends” — all in the span of 60 minutes. 

7. Gratitude empowers contentment transforming whatever amount we have into enough. In a season of time when everyone has lost something and many have lost so much. And in an age of pervasive ads and messages everywhere encouraging us to a perpetual collection of stuff (possessions or experiences), gratitude invites and allows us to be content with what we have. NOW. However, little or much it may be. Gratitude helps us recognize, it is enough. 

8. Gratitude is fertile soil for the other good things we want in our life, work, and families. As we explore, express, and experience gratitude, we discover that gratitude is fertile soil in which other good things grow — particularly hope. As Cicero said, “Gratitude is not only the greatest of all virtues, it’s the parent of all others.” 

9. Gratitude always travels with good friends. I began calling it JAG — JOY, Abundance, and Gratitude because wherever you find one member of that trio, the other two are close in tow. They travel together. It doesn’t matter which shows up first, when one arrives, the others are soon to follow. Kindness, compassion, happiness, and others are also traveling companions with gratitude.

10. Gratitude is the gateway to abundance. It opens the door to more of the good things in life and work. Perhaps this summarizes everything preceding this entry on the list. Embracing gratitude helps you leave the land of scarcity and enter a life of abundance. 

This list is far from exhaustive. What benefits listed here have you experienced as you embrace gratitude? What benefits would you add to this list? Please use the comments below to grow this list.