We live in a fast-paced and stressful world today. How do we stay grounded so that we can maintain or even improve our emotional health? I tend to use integrative holistic approach to therapy. I cannot empathize the importance of embracing gratitude through the lens of Eastern philosophy. Growing up in Japan, we say this phrase "itadakimasu" (いただきます）
that translates "to humbly receive." or "thank you for preparing this meal", expressing gratitude and respect for the meal itself and for everyone who was involved in preparing this meal.
Japanese culture incorporates "gratitue", known as "Kansha" in our everyday lives, and I realize that it was not just about simple thank you but it encompasses a deep sense of appreciation for all that we have today. By expressing or even thinking about the meaning of gratitude, our mind shift to something positive and warm feelings come to me. Through the practice of visiting gratitude each day, I try to journal contributions of myself and others, how technology makes it possible for us to meet and do sessions. There are many things we often take it for granted, the nature, humming birds and in that moment, I can respect and appreciate the nature. I can allow myself to just sit in the moment so that I can soak in the light of "kansha", trying to surround myself with the flow of the nature, events, opportunities, friends and families and MYSELF. That's why, creating a gratitude list is my daily self-care strategy. No matter how awful I am feeling that day, I commit myself to 15 minutes journaling time for gratitude. Gratitude can help us to reset our unhelpful thought patterns, help us understand the situation from different perspectives, and it can bring up warm feelings and study shows that practicing and embracing gratitude regularly can alleviate symptoms of anxiety, depression and stress.
It is difficult to pratice gratitue when you feel crappy. That is why I want to empower you to embrace gratitude anyways and shift your focus toward good things that are already happening in your life, supportive friends, partner, family, even your fur animals and pets, the fact that we are alive today.
I believe that practicing gratitude can pave the pathway toward wellness and inner peace. It will not change the trauma or current illness you may be suffering from, but gratitude can cultivate a deeper meaning of life, a sense of interconnectedness with others, natures and environment and it gives us an opportunity to transform our thinking and our being.
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