Practicing Happiness: Gratitude

When I first heard about practicing gratitude, it made me think of Sunday School and saying grace.

It sounds religious, and probably is part of all religions.  It also sounds simplistic and "goody two shoes".

But it works.  Why?

If I take a few moments each day just to be grateful...for whatever I'm grateful for at that moment--the hot water in my bath, the taste and smell of my coffee, a safe place to be--it helps change my mood.  It makes me feel good. 

And here's why I think it works:

1) Being grateful makes me look a what's good and right in my life, rather than what's wrong.  It helps me focus on the glass half-full rather than the alternative.

2) Being grateful makes me present, mindful.

3) Being grateful overcomes "hedonistic adaptation".  We tend to habituate to things that initially made us happy.  Being grateful makes us aware again of the joy, pleasure, comfort of things we take for granted.

And like most "happiness" practices, it has a snowball effect.

If there is one thing that has helped me change my attitude towards life it is gratitude.

'Doesn't mean I don't get down, depressed or anxious; but it does help move me in the direction I want to be moving.