Saying “thank you” is not just good manners. Cultivating gratitude represents one way to savor and enjoy one’s life more fully. Dr. Fred Bryant, a social psychologist at Loyola University of Chicago, notes that there are three ways that people savor daily living and appreciate the gift of being alive:
- Marveling (losing oneself in wonder and awe)
- Luxuriating (indulging one’s senses)
- Basking (receiving praise)
Cultivate a Sense of Gratitude
Here are some ideas for how to cultivate a sense of gratitude…and savor more of your life in the process!
- Take a marveling moment. Each night before hitting the pillow, review your day and think of at least 3 things that caught your eye and made you stop and say “wow.” (If there’s more, so much the better!) Everything is fair game, from life-changing events (a new job) to smaller, daily happenings (being welcomed home by your dogs,) and especially the ones you might not always notice (green tips of future tulips poking up through the ground.)
- Look for a little luxury. Read some of that fun novel that’s been beckoning you. Take yourself out to dinner—or dine in with something special if you relish cooking. Relax in a scented bath instead of filling up your evening with “to-dos.” And there’s always the underestimated relief that comes from taking a nap! Notice and appreciate how good it all feels.
- Bask in your own glow. When you’ve accomplished something—either minor or major—be sure to give yourself a mental “good job” before moving on to the next task. Acknowledge how far you have come.
By developing a regular habit of saying “thank you” for life’s little pleasures, you’ll find that you have more blessings than you realized, and by recognizing them, you’ll be receptive to even more bounty in your life.
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