Your Thank You List Is Good and All, but It Might Be Missing Something.
It has been proven that the practice of seeing the small and big things that you are grateful for makes you a happier person. This is because you literally think about the good things that are in your life, rather than focus on what you don’t have, and have a negative attitude about it. Take it a step further and find out why you are grateful for this thing.
Shari Alexander, a Los Angeles-based conversation coach, notes that thank lists are great , but often lack a ” why” component. She writes:
Make your gratitude list more than just a call for what’s good now. Don’t just write down one element and move on to the next.
In fact, I am arguing that gratitude does not exist unless you know WHY you are grateful. Without giving reasons, the thank you list is more like a list of “nice things I noticed today.”
I understand her point of view. I’ve added a five-minute diary to my daily routine, in which I write down three things I’m grateful for. It can be difficult sometimes, so I just write something for that (here’s one of today’s: “Raisins, even if some people hate it”). Now that I think about it: they are delicious and I love them. And that’s enough for me.
To go even further, Alexander invites you to look at his thank you list and ask, “Have you expressed your gratitude OUTSIDE your thank you list?” For example, have you ever been grateful to someone? Probably. But did you tell this person? This is less likely.
Try telling someone that you are grateful for their contribution to your life today. Reader, I am grateful that you have read this and my other articles and have left good comments. Thank you.
What’s missing on your gratitude list | Shari Alexander