Four gratitude lists for a better life

GRATITUDE. Regardless of our spiritual orientation, gratitude is a universal positive feeling that we should cultivate. As American transcendentalist, essayist, poet, philosopher, and lecturer Ralph Waldo Emerson put it: “Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.” This quote reminds us that we should be grateful for everything including the negative--no matter how heartbroken these have brought us to be. This quote also implies that a sense of gratitude is important for a better life.

To cultivate gratitude, here are four lists to make and keep:

1. A “grateful for” list

It is common for us to take for granted the mundane especially if we don’t exert as much effort to get them. Writing about these people, places, things, and circumstances that have been around ever since will help us realize the privilege we’ve received. After all, not a lot of people are given an easy pass to the good in this world.

1. Month-in-review

Putting the past month in review will provide us a map of the good and the bad experiences we had, and more importantly, its lessons. Learning from these experiences is a great way to see the better side of things. Ultimately, this can turn the positive into reinforcements and the negative into motivations. All of these are something we can be grateful for.

1. Achievement list

This is not limited to awards and recognition. This list can be about day-to-day successes. It can be as simple as achieving the desired 10,000 steps or opting for water instead of soda. It is also recommended to note the people, places, things, and circumstances that led to the said achievement for these deserve our biggest thanks.

1. A failure list

We all make mistakes. We all fall short of expectations. Of course, making a failure list can be daunting because it allows a point-blank stare at our weaknesses and vulnerabilities. However, a failure list can also be empowering. It leads to an awareness of the areas that we can improve on, and such awareness is always the first step to progress. It is for this very reason that a failure list can be a source of gratitude.

Hope that these lists will help you cultivate and reap the rewards of gratitude in your everyday lives.