Several people have recently shared with me that they are resistant to focusing on gratitude. It feels fake to them, as if focusing on gratitude means that the things they struggle with are being invalidated. They have agreed to suspend their disbelief and to try keeping a gratitude journal. I look forward to hearing what they take away from the experience.
Resistance to gratitude is a barrier to fully being in the moment we are in. It's not that these people don’t want good things in their days. It is that fear, anxiety, depression, and pain are powerful forces that demand attention like a barking dog. I have learned that what we give our attention to gets bigger, and that noticing and leaning into little moments of joy can be lifechanging, even in the presence of struggle.
It is 10:00AM as I write this, and so far today I am grateful for the way the smell of coffee makes me feel. I am grateful that Marilla let me trim three of her claws before telling me she’d had enough. I am grateful that Brandon called this morning and I got to cheer him on. I am grateful for the green and the sway of the holly branches outside my window.
These things don’t diminish my struggles. They are not false. They are moments I lean into and do my best to feel. Doing this mindfully and purposefully throughout the day changes the way I am situated in my body. It brings a lightness. It sparks joy.
What we give our attention to gets bigger. What do you want to encourage in your life? What spark do you want to fan? What do you want to grow?
Struggles are real, and so are the little gifts that always show up. Some struggles are temporary. Some are ongoing. We all have our ways of managing the narrow spaces in our lives. I suggest that sharpening our ability to notice the little gifts is a superpower that we can all cultivate.
What are the gifts in your day?