January 10
One of many wonderful things about having gratitude is that it goes beyond mere acknowledgement and can be an opportunity to recognize how you’re growing in daily life. Gratitude isn’t only about making a list with the word “gratitude” at the top and then collecting the list below. Gratitude can also be a daily journey of recognizing moments of an emerging awareness of how you have been blooming, with time.
Some things might be easier to feel a sense of gratitude for such as, a day off in your favorite city with your favorite people might lead to feelings of gratitude that seem almost immediately fulfilling. However, in many other areas of life it might be harder to identify those moments worth being grateful for because they are more subtle. Here are some phrases of things you may have said, thought, or felt that may reflect possible gratitude moments.
"I know what I want to take off my plate now." - Even before the moment of actual relief or change, simply identifying what is not working or aligning with your priorities can bring a sense of clarity. This recognition is a meaningful step towards making space for what matters more. Being grateful for the ways you have grown in gratitude is more than just self-reflection, it’s an opportunity to explore how you have been evolving, right here.
"I didn't do as much as I wanted, but I did something." - Even before the moment of fulfillment or completion, acknowledging the effort you've made can provide a sense of assurance. You are free to let this be a reminder that progress isn't always measured in leaps and bounds; sometimes, it's the accumulation of small, consistent efforts that you have been present to all this time. Being grateful for the progress you have made, even if it wasn’t to the extent of what you wanted, isn’t weakness. Instead, it’s an opportunity to gracefully value the beautiful reality that all along, you have continued to have present to this life with a mindful, adaptable momentum.
"I’m going to give some more thought to this." - This can lead to gratitude for the opportunity to continue learning and growing. Maybe in the past, you felt rushed to have all the answers, but now you recognize that there's value in the process of exploration itself. Of course, there are things in life that require immediate action but there are others where you need more space. And if you have ever found yourself saying or thinking “I don’t have to rush this” or “I want to take my time processing this” this could be a reflection of cultivating patience and steady growth. This shift in perspective allows you to appreciate the journey of discovery and gratitude emerges from the freedom to evolve at your own pace. Slowly but surely, the unknown is becoming so much more than a place of anxiousness, a space in which you are practicing courage and wisdom, through it all. And that is absolutely something worth being grateful for.
Of course, not every moment of a phrase has to reflect something deeper to explore, but consider the ways that it could remind you of what’s worth being grateful for, right here. In other words, these phrases can be like seeds that, once nestled in the everyday fabric of your life, can blossom into a rich gratitude for the many facets of your growth.
