When was the last time that gratitude happened for you? Pretty sure you hit for a pause as your mind dwells on something —an event, a person, a behavior, an object— in life that is meaningful or valuable to you. It’s a concept we often hear about, yet it remains elusive in its true essence.
Gratitude can mean different things to different people in different contexts. Whether it’s a silent whisper of thanks given to the universe for its endless gifts, a heartfelt appreciation expressed for a kind gesture, or a quiet acknowledgment of the good in our lives, gratitude is indeed a celebration of the present (often overlooked in the daily grind). It’s the epiphany, a realization that there’s always something to be thankful for in every moment.
Kritajna: Gratitude as Presence
The Sanskrit word for gratitude is ‘kritajna,’ which translates to “a state which is consciously chosen or created that results from being fully present.” This ancient wisdom aligns beautifully with the modern dictionary definition of gratitude as the ‘state of being grateful.’ Both these definitions underscore that gratitude is a state of mind, a conscious choice. It’s a simple yet profound principle – all you must be is grateful (but for some of us, this doesn’t flow as naturally and easily as it might seem and that’s perfectly alright for when nurtured with attention and love, this sense of gratitude can grow over time. 🙂)
Research indicates that engaging in a daily gratitude practice can harness the transformative power of neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s remarkable ability to modify, change, and adapt its structure and function throughout life in response to experiences. This suggests that we can actually condition our brains to foster a state of gratitude. By doing so, we can increase the levels of dopamine and serotonin in our brains, often referred to as the “feel-good” chemicals. This process essentially rewires our brains to create a positive feedback loop. With repeated focus on gratitude, we can bring about lasting changes in our thought patterns and emotional processing, thereby enhancing our overall well-being.
So, as we draw this discussion to a close, if you feel the need to up your gratitude game then I invite you to ponder on this: “What is one personal step you can take to activate your own “gratitude circuitry”? Remember, your gratitude doesn’t just benefit you. Its ripple effect can touch the lives of those around you in profound ways.
Make it a way of life, one grateful thought at a time.