The “attitude of gratitude.” Did you know practicing gratitude is truly essential to our well-being?

Gratitude comes from the Latin word gratus, which literally means “thankful, or pleasing.” We have all encountered “bad days” when everything that could go wrong seems to be doing so. We can’t help but radiate negative energy and complain about how awful the Universe is treating us (Marsha, Marsha, Marsha). Many people don’t realize that it only takes a few seconds to stop in that moment and reflect, accept, and start appreciating the things you have to turn your entire attitude around.

For some people, their first question would be, “So what, how can altering from my bad attitude to a place of gratitude change what already is?” I would then respond to them with, “Well, ask yourself this, how does picking a bad attitude over gratitude have the power to change what is and what will be?” If you are familiar with the “Law of Attraction,” or they saying “like attracts like,” you can assume where this question leads. When we project positive energy out, positive experiences come in our lives. The same goes for negative energy -- when negative thoughts and/or words are projected from us, negative experiences grow attracted to us.

Unfortunately, most people (not you of course) perceive negativity as being something only others have. In fact, negativity can grow to be so deeply ingrained in us that it goes unnoticed. That is because we have trained ourselves to believe people who are being positive and optimistic are not being realistic, and people who keep track of their problems have a better chance of solving them. Both are false.

For starters, being pessimistic about life is actually in no way, shape, or form being realistic. When you pay more attention to your problems, you have not unlocked any hidden secret to limiting stress or sorrow. This unconscious behavior does the opposite, by creating more problems for your future. By talking mostly about your problems, you are projecting that problems are your main focus, and by doing so you are telling the Universe you want more of them.

Luckily for you, it is never too late to change bad habits. Showing gratitude is fairly easy, and research has proven that gratitude has endless positive effects on our well-being. According to Professor Robert Emmons, who has been studying gratitude for almost 10 years,

“Gratitude enriches human life. It elevates, energizes, inspires, and transforms. People are moved, opened, and humbled through expressions of gratitude.”

Emmons also maintains that gratitude is not something innate but a “chosen attitude.” In order to reach fulfillment of gratitude, we have to get rid of the “victim mentality” and acquire a sense of entitlement and deservedness.

Once you grow accustomed to finding things in your life to be grateful for, you’ll notice small gifts and simple pleasures that were once unrecognized. You'll start noticing how they truly bring so much light to and throughout your days. Gratitude should not only be present when receiving what we want but also when we are enduring the complexities of life.

Practice gratitude today. Instead of waiting for the perfect gift to be thankful for, be thankful for the numerous gifts you have already been given. Denis Waitley once said:

“Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude."