Interesting phrasing, and I understand the intent, but my first reaction was that the question should be turned around: “When life feels difficult, how does my gratefulness practice nurture me?” I say that because practicing gratefulness literally does nurture me constantly. It makes me joyful, and provides my world view. With particular respect to this question, however, practicing gratefulness shields me from negativity. It has taught me to focus on what is, to live in the present, and avoid catastrophizing. Others, including the British preacher John Henry Jowett have observed that, “Gratitude is a vaccine, an antitoxin, and an antiseptic.” I absolutely agree.
I nurture it by coming to this site. It is a good almost daily reminder plus this community is full of wisdom and experiences with their practices.
Today I helped my daughter by updating her application for 2025 Health Ins market place. For several years she had the same plan but now it seems like it has to be renewed every year. It is a chore but needs to be done and it is extremely important. Sometimes it feels like one thing after another! No rest for the weary!
I think I nurture it more during the difficult times. It is during those times I have to pause the most, focus on my gratitude and find a way to step forward. I start my day with prayer and gratefulness everyday, but it’s the hard times I try to stay there a little longer.
I nurture my gratefulness practice in difficult times the same way I do in happy or easy times: By starting every day with poetry and a visit to this site. It may take me a bit if things are really rough, but I usually remember to be grateful for things I’ve learned in the past that help me with a present challenge. I remind myself “This too shall pass” and that I’ll take away some new lesson.
In the midst of difficulties I’m always aware of the ways that my life is easier than that of others with less privilege. I’m grateful for things I have that help me get through, from a loving and rock-solid reliable partner and a steady job with benefits to a warm, safe home and plenty of food to eat. Whatever I’m facing would be 10,000 times tougher if I didn’t have those.
And I stop and breathe. Just breathe.
Without the darkness, there is no light. Without the light, there is no darkness.
When I feel anxiety coming on, or if my mind becomes too busy to sleep at bedtime,
I reach for the book- Wake Up Grateful- by Kristi Nelson.
I find it difficult to read this book for much more than thirty minutes to an hour.
She has concentrated so much wisdom into this book.
I read it slowly taking as much in as I can, underlining passages, and making notes in the margins.
It’s the only book that I have read that can take me out of anxiety and leave me feeling grateful.
Wishing peace and grateful joy to all.
Thank you for sharing your experience with the book “Wake Up Grateful”, Mary! That is a powerful statement that it is the only book that you have read that can take you out of anxiety and leave you feeling grateful.
I have recently started reading the book for the first time and I agree that it is a powerful book, with concentrated wisdom, good to take in slowly.
This is a particularly timely question. My tendency for the last 45yrs has been to check out, get high, and distract myself with television, the “news”, Facebook, and whatever else that could take me away from my current unsatisfying reality. So now that I am aware of this tendency, I will continue my practices, even when it feels pointless. Attempting to be here, in this moment. And of course, this moment isn’t so bad. Not at all. I have so much to be grateful for. Thank you all for lettting me share this moment with you. 🙏
Writing a few gratitudes each morning brings a quiet stillness to my heart. I get a felt sense of openness and receptivity.
This morning as I unraveled the stress and negative thoughts and became aware of the patterns of response mentally and physically, I knew it was time to visit this space and reflect.
I am grateful today for the sun and blue sky.
I am grateful for the fan blowing a breeze on my neck.
I am grateful to be able to recognize negative thoughts and call them out as false.
I am grateful to acknowledge the past trauma of being bullied and unseen.
I am grateful to acknowledge to my inner child this real thing happened, and comfort her.
I am grateful to be able to speak with love and compassion to the child who is still with me that we are safe, we are loved, and we are no longer small and without the love and help of our beautiful adult self.
I am grateful to acknowledge that I can do difficult things, and we can reframe and move forward today with positivity.
I am grateful for silence.
I am grateful for hope.
All 7 of my cats help me with this, each in their own individual way. Cats are incredibly perceptive animals – I dont need to tell them when im feeling down or when life is difficult- they can already sense that, and are by my side. In fact, one of my cats has a special meow he uses only at times when he senses I’m feeling down. He’ll then come sit on my lap purring. Right now, he’s nestled beside me, a quiet reminder that I’m not alone. How could I not feel grateful?
Me too!
I have four, and have had many more.
I’m informally involved in cat rescue.
Over the years many stray or abandoned cats have come to my door.
They choose me to be their human.
I gratefully agree!😸😸😸😸
I can identify with your answer, Lauryn. My cat passed away several years ago but my memories of him have not. If I was upset, he knew it and would climb into my lap and pat my cheek with his paw without his claws. Just a soft, pat, pat, pat. If I was gone for several days on business, when I returned, he would drape himself over my feet whether I was standing or sitting down. It was his way of telling me he was glad I was home. Warm memories!
I am pretty new to considering myself to have a gratefulness “practice”. I think that going to this website most every day and answering the reflection question (and then often applying the answer in my daily living that day, and reading other people’s answers too) has been the start of me really having a practice. My personal life has not felt overly difficult in the last few months, although certainly life in the world has felt difficult. I really find these questions to be quite nurturing. Sometimes my first reaction when seeing the question is “I don’t have anything to say about that one,” but then I just start writing and see what comes out, and often am surprised by the wisdom that comes out to guide me. I hope that I can continue this practice even in times when my personal life feels more difficult, as it has been quite helpful to me, and I think that the different questions get at different aspects of a holistic gratitude practice.
Elizabeth, I feel the same way when I first look at many of the questions.
I look at it and think to myself, I don’t know.
In the past, this kept me from posting at the Daily Question.
Now if I just think about it for a few moments, I can start writing,
and am often surprised by what I come up with.
Beutiful answer! Thank you Elizabeth for sharing your journey with us. I don’t always comment by I get so much healing from the answer of all the wise master on this site that answer every single day. My teachers for sure!
Agreed. Sometimes I don’t know my answer to the question immediately, but just start writing. I’ve also made it a habit to try to respond first, before I read how others have responded.
Find moments during the difficult times to remind myself that I have gotten through tough things before, and I can and will do it again. And if I can focus on some of my many blessings, that helps nurture my practice as well.
THANK YOU everyone who wished me a happy birthday yesterday!
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Interesting phrasing, and I understand the intent, but my first reaction was that the question should be turned around: “When life feels difficult, how does my gratefulness practice nurture me?” I say that because practicing gratefulness literally does nurture me constantly. It makes me joyful, and provides my world view. With particular respect to this question, however, practicing gratefulness shields me from negativity. It has taught me to focus on what is, to live in the present, and avoid catastrophizing. Others, including the British preacher John Henry Jowett have observed that, “Gratitude is a vaccine, an antitoxin, and an antiseptic.” I absolutely agree.
I nurture it by coming to this site. It is a good almost daily reminder plus this community is full of wisdom and experiences with their practices.
Today I helped my daughter by updating her application for 2025 Health Ins market place. For several years she had the same plan but now it seems like it has to be renewed every year. It is a chore but needs to be done and it is extremely important. Sometimes it feels like one thing after another! No rest for the weary!
I think I nurture it more during the difficult times. It is during those times I have to pause the most, focus on my gratitude and find a way to step forward. I start my day with prayer and gratefulness everyday, but it’s the hard times I try to stay there a little longer.
I nurture my gratefulness practice in difficult times the same way I do in happy or easy times: By starting every day with poetry and a visit to this site. It may take me a bit if things are really rough, but I usually remember to be grateful for things I’ve learned in the past that help me with a present challenge. I remind myself “This too shall pass” and that I’ll take away some new lesson.
In the midst of difficulties I’m always aware of the ways that my life is easier than that of others with less privilege. I’m grateful for things I have that help me get through, from a loving and rock-solid reliable partner and a steady job with benefits to a warm, safe home and plenty of food to eat. Whatever I’m facing would be 10,000 times tougher if I didn’t have those.
And I stop and breathe. Just breathe.
Without the darkness, there is no light. Without the light, there is no darkness.
Look for what is good or possible/positive in life !
When I feel anxiety coming on, or if my mind becomes too busy to sleep at bedtime,
I reach for the book- Wake Up Grateful- by Kristi Nelson.
I find it difficult to read this book for much more than thirty minutes to an hour.
She has concentrated so much wisdom into this book.
I read it slowly taking as much in as I can, underlining passages, and making notes in the margins.
It’s the only book that I have read that can take me out of anxiety and leave me feeling grateful.
Wishing peace and grateful joy to all.
Thank you for sharing your experience with the book “Wake Up Grateful”, Mary! That is a powerful statement that it is the only book that you have read that can take you out of anxiety and leave you feeling grateful.
I have recently started reading the book for the first time and I agree that it is a powerful book, with concentrated wisdom, good to take in slowly.
I really enjoyed her book too and have share it.
This is a particularly timely question. My tendency for the last 45yrs has been to check out, get high, and distract myself with television, the “news”, Facebook, and whatever else that could take me away from my current unsatisfying reality. So now that I am aware of this tendency, I will continue my practices, even when it feels pointless. Attempting to be here, in this moment. And of course, this moment isn’t so bad. Not at all. I have so much to be grateful for. Thank you all for lettting me share this moment with you. 🙏
Today happens to be https://nationaltoday.com/national-unfriend-day/
I am amazed that this was created back in 2010. I never had a FB and never intend to either. (or Twitter/X)
Writing a few gratitudes each morning brings a quiet stillness to my heart. I get a felt sense of openness and receptivity.
This morning as I unraveled the stress and negative thoughts and became aware of the patterns of response mentally and physically, I knew it was time to visit this space and reflect.
I am grateful today for the sun and blue sky.
I am grateful for the fan blowing a breeze on my neck.
I am grateful to be able to recognize negative thoughts and call them out as false.
I am grateful to acknowledge the past trauma of being bullied and unseen.
I am grateful to acknowledge to my inner child this real thing happened, and comfort her.
I am grateful to be able to speak with love and compassion to the child who is still with me that we are safe, we are loved, and we are no longer small and without the love and help of our beautiful adult self.
I am grateful to acknowledge that I can do difficult things, and we can reframe and move forward today with positivity.
I am grateful for silence.
I am grateful for hope.
I am grateful,
dear Sarah,
that you know these things
with love…♥
I agree with Barbara.
I see a lot of strength in your words
Such strength here. Thank you for sharing.
I consistently look for things to be grateful for–starting when I roll out of bed in the morning.
Remembering tge both and…..
All 7 of my cats help me with this, each in their own individual way. Cats are incredibly perceptive animals – I dont need to tell them when im feeling down or when life is difficult- they can already sense that, and are by my side. In fact, one of my cats has a special meow he uses only at times when he senses I’m feeling down. He’ll then come sit on my lap purring. Right now, he’s nestled beside me, a quiet reminder that I’m not alone. How could I not feel grateful?
Your reflection completely resonates with me – I’m a cat person, my whole family are cat people. Love all of my cats, both former and current.
Me too!
I have four, and have had many more.
I’m informally involved in cat rescue.
Over the years many stray or abandoned cats have come to my door.
They choose me to be their human.
I gratefully agree!😸😸😸😸
I love my cats too, Lauren.
Being with them makes me happy!😸
I can identify with your answer, Lauryn. My cat passed away several years ago but my memories of him have not. If I was upset, he knew it and would climb into my lap and pat my cheek with his paw without his claws. Just a soft, pat, pat, pat. If I was gone for several days on business, when I returned, he would drape himself over my feet whether I was standing or sitting down. It was his way of telling me he was glad I was home. Warm memories!
I look back at my mom. She is a source of resilience in difficulties. So far, my life has not been as challenging as hers, and I am grateful for that.
My Ngoc, I can certainly say the same about mine. Both our moms have taught us the value of finding other ways when the going gets tough.
I am pretty new to considering myself to have a gratefulness “practice”. I think that going to this website most every day and answering the reflection question (and then often applying the answer in my daily living that day, and reading other people’s answers too) has been the start of me really having a practice. My personal life has not felt overly difficult in the last few months, although certainly life in the world has felt difficult. I really find these questions to be quite nurturing. Sometimes my first reaction when seeing the question is “I don’t have anything to say about that one,” but then I just start writing and see what comes out, and often am surprised by the wisdom that comes out to guide me. I hope that I can continue this practice even in times when my personal life feels more difficult, as it has been quite helpful to me, and I think that the different questions get at different aspects of a holistic gratitude practice.
Elizabeth, I feel the same way when I first look at many of the questions.
I look at it and think to myself, I don’t know.
In the past, this kept me from posting at the Daily Question.
Now if I just think about it for a few moments, I can start writing,
and am often surprised by what I come up with.
The power of journaling! It has sustained me so many times. Keep writing!
Beutiful answer! Thank you Elizabeth for sharing your journey with us. I don’t always comment by I get so much healing from the answer of all the wise master on this site that answer every single day. My teachers for sure!
Agreed. Sometimes I don’t know my answer to the question immediately, but just start writing. I’ve also made it a habit to try to respond first, before I read how others have responded.
One step or breath at a time, baby steps, mindfulness
Enjoy the weekend everyone 🙂
Starting with baby steps helps me so much
Find moments during the difficult times to remind myself that I have gotten through tough things before, and I can and will do it again. And if I can focus on some of my many blessings, that helps nurture my practice as well.
THANK YOU everyone who wished me a happy birthday yesterday!