MIDWEEK M😊TIVATI😊N blog of which I am blessed to write. Now let's get started by talking about how cultivating an Attitude of Gratitude can literally transform your running!! I'm not kidding!
So what exactly is an Attitude of Gratitude?
It's simply a settled way of thinking about the positives in every situation that is reflected in a person's behavior.
But get this, conditioning your mind to constantly think good thoughts takes practice! In fact, it's much like training the body to run. You have to do it over and over again to make it a habit. And it's not always easy! But as every long-time and long-distance runner knows, it's the key to success! And what better time to hone this priceless trait than now right? A time when, if you're adhering to the COVID restrictions as we all should be, you're spending a lot of time alone with yourself... time when your brain wants to have pity parties and complain about the unfairness of it all. Am I right???
So here we go then! Forming this type of mindset will not only have you smiling in the hardest of training runs or races, it will spill over into your personal life and make you better equipped to handle the tests, trials, pain, hardships and hurdles this world will inevitably throw at you.
What does this look like in real life? While everyone will be different, here's an example of what an Attitude of Gratitude looks like in my life. Yesterday morning was beautiful! And I would have loved nothing more than to be running outside. But knowing my body needed a rest, I chose to use my recumbent bike for my workout instead. And while spending nearly two hours cycling, without getting anywhere as I longingly stared out the window at what I was missing, would have driven me to the brink of tears and frustration many years ago, I found myself smiling and fighting the urge to sing praise songs out loud so as not to wake my sleeping daughter. In fact, the urge to sing out LOUD was so hard to suppress that I had to whisper the words to keep from exploding!
But let me assure you, this is NOT something I would have done several years ago. But it's a cultivated attitude that has been formed over time that began with my initial decision to say, "I will choose to find a reason to be grateful in every situation." And guess what? I found that there were more benefits to having this mindset than just being able to stay motivated to run or continue to run when it gets hard, people who are continually grateful:
- Expect that something good will always come out of any bad situation
- Have stronger immune systems
- Have more energy
- Can smile and laugh in the face of adversity
- Cope with stress better
- Enjoy exercising regularly and are more apt to stick with it
- Love their work and love their lives
- Eat healthier
- Sleep better
- Have more friends
- Look at problems as only temporary setbacks
So how do we cultivate this Attitude of Gratitude?
By practicing it over and over and over and over.... until gratitude becomes a natural response to life's curve balls, even curve balls like COVID-19.
So here we go! Here are six ways to cultivate an “attitude of gratitude”:
2. Write it down. Keep a gratitude journal. Try it for 30 days. Be specific about what you are thankful for. Watch how your thoughts develop over time and how you find more and more things to be grateful for as this way of thinking becomes more natural.
3. Talk about it. Sharing what you are thankful for blesses others and inspires them to be thankful too, giving you one more thing to be thankful for! And there's just something about saying it out loud that makes a person realize how good life truly is.
4. Meditate on it. Whether you regularly meditate or not, take a break a few times each day to reflect on all the good things that are happening in your life. Even amidst the chaos, look for the good! You will find the more you do this, the more your mind will focus on your blessings rather than your burdens.
5. Express it. Find that person who made a difference in your life, and tell them thank you. Perhaps it was a coach, a teacher, a friend, a pastor or even a parent? Call them or write them. Expressing gratitude helps you grow it. And seeing or hearing the person's reaction to your appreciation for them will not only give them a reason to smile but will make you thankful that you told them, prompting you to smile too! And who isn't grateful for having a reason to smile?? Especially now. 😃
6. Hang around people who exhibit it. If you want to be thankful, get around people with that characteristic. Some people just bubble over with enthusiasm and gratitude for life no matter their circumstances. I once had a dear friend that literally never complained. Audra battled cancer for many years and was in and out of remission on several occasions. During this time she managed to train for and complete a few 5ks. She smiled through all of them! In fact, she was always smiling and always grateful for each day that she was given. And up until the day she lost her battle with cancer, she was praising God for every moment she had with her family. She most definitely had an attitude of gratitude and I was forever changed by being a witness to it.
And on a final note, while cultivating an Attitude of Gratitude might be a little awkward at first, don't give up! According to science, it can take anywhere from 18 to 254 days for a person to form a new habit and an average of 66 days for a new behavior to become automatic. So hang in there friends! Changing your thought pattern might not be easy but it will be worth it! 😊
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