Grateful Living: JB's Monday Momentum #13
From Gratitude to Growth: the Power of Appreciation
Estimated reading time: four minutes
Welcome to Monday Momentum, the weekly newsletter where I discuss practical wisdom, uncovering insights to enhance our lives one thoughtful moment at a time. While I have confidence in the ideas I write about, I acknowledge that what works for me may not work for everyone. Take each idea as you see fit and let me know what you think!
Hello friends,
This week marks my final week of high school, concluding my K-12 journey and signaling the end of an era. Reflecting on these years has highlighted the bittersweet nature of this transition. I believe it is essential to acknowledge and be grateful for your unique experiences. Indeed, I am grateful for the people, places, challenges, and even mistakes that have shaped my experience. In this edition of Monday Momentum, we’ll look into the power of gratitude and its role in shaping a fulfilling life.
If you missed last week’s edition—“Do The Thing”—you can click here to check it out.
A Question I am Contemplating:
What role does gratitude play in the good life?
At its core, grateful living means recognizing every moment as a gift, irrespective of its outward appearance. It's about understanding that life's true essence lies in the opportunities presented within each moment, rather than in external circumstances. By shifting our focus from what we lack to what we have, we can cultivate greater satisfaction and contentment.
Here are four ideas of how practicing gratitude can improve our daily lives:
Living gratefully leads to happiness. Contrary to popular belief, it's not happiness that leads to gratitude, but rather, gratitude that leads to happiness.1 Grateful individuals find joy even in difficult circumstances, appreciating the lessons they bring. This sense of happiness is rooted in an appreciation for life itself, regardless of the external conditions. Understanding this distinction is crucial in embracing a life filled with gratitude.
Living gratefully encourages us to appreciate the good things in life and the challenges that offer opportunities for growth and learning. Embracing difficulties with gratitude allows us to emerge stronger and more resilient individuals, enriched by the lessons they teach.
Living gratefully grounds us in the present while encouraging us to picture a brighter tomorrow. When we practice gratitude, we train our minds to focus on the positive aspects of life, creating a mindset that is more open to opportunities and solutions. Gratitude reminds us of the many blessings in our lives and encourages us to look forward with a sense of possibility.
Living gratefully strengthens our social bonds by fostering appreciation for the contributions and kindness of others. Taking a moment to express gratitude to someone, whether through a heartfelt letter or a simple gesture, not only strengthens our relationships but also allows us to relive moments of joy and connection.
How can we cultivate gratitude moment-by-moment in our lives?
One effective method is the "Stop, Look, Go" approach, coined by David Steindl-Rast. This simple yet powerful technique goes like this:
Stop: Pause and get quiet, build stop signs into life. We are constantly rushing through life so building these stop signs allows us to slow down. An example could be setting reminders on your phone or computer to prompt brief moments of mindfulness throughout the day.
Look: Open your senses to appreciate the richness of life. Life is about enjoying what it has given us, whether it’s the things right in front of you or the opportunities to help yourself or others. By opening our senses, we can fully immerse ourselves in the present moment and experience gratitude for the abundance around us.
Go: Act upon the opportunities presented by each moment. If you don’t act, nothing can happen.2 Sometimes it will be about sitting back and enjoying, while other times it could be a challenge that needs to be embraced. Whatever it is, you have to take action.
Commit to recognizing the opportunities within each moment, expressing appreciation for life's blessings, and cultivating a deeper sense of contentment and joy through grateful living.
Quote on gratitude:
“We are never more than one grateful thought away from peace of heart.” — David Steindl-Rast
Goal for the Week:
Write letters of appreciation
Keeping with the theme of gratitude, this only seems appropriate. I find great joy in writing letters to people, and it is something that I take pride in doing. As my chances of seeing some people will become less frequent, now is a great time to express my appreciation to those who have impacted my life this school year.
What I’m Reading:
Discipline Is Destiny — Ryan Holiday (8% done)
What I’m listening to (one podcast, one artist, one song):
The Daily Stoic: Solving The Epidemic of Mental Illness Caused By Social Media | Jonathan Haidt 3
The Dreggs
Inside Out: Spoon
Thanks for reading! Don't forget to subscribe to stay updated for the next edition and feel free to leave a comment. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Wishing you a week filled with gratitude,
James
A great idea taken from David Steindl-Rast. Brother Steindl-Rast has dedicated his life to exploring the power of gratitude. He believes that gratitude is not simply a feeling but a way of being that allows us to experience life more fully and connect with others more deeply.
Goes back to last week’s edition about doing the thing. You have to act if you want to gain anything out of an opportunity.