2 x 2 > 4
The heart that breaks open can contain the whole universe.
JOANNA MACY
I believe a grateful heart is the kind of heart Joanna Macy is referring to. And if you are like me, I need ongoing practice to keep my heart from hardening. Living gratefully is one of those practices. One of my purposes here on this blog is to not only share what grateful living means to me, but to share ideas and practices to encourage others to incorporate gratefulness into our everyday lives. A Network for Grateful Living also has many such offerings, including the “Word for the Day” above that you can sign up to receive by email each day.
One of the writing practices I do is something I call “Gratitude Multiplication.” Here’s mine today:
Our dog Oliver
a. His anxious old-age quirks call forth more patience and compassion in my heart.
b. His face, marked by age, just like mine, shows character and wisdom, just like mine.
Fried eggs and toast for breakfast
a. They are easy, delicious, and a good start to my day.
b. They bring back memories of farm-fresh eggs growing up.
I count six things on this list. Two things I am grateful for and two reasons why for each. It’s a sort of synergistic math. You could use any variation on this: 3 x 3 > 9, 2 x 3 > 6. You get the idea. There is also power in writing down our gratitudes and sharing them with others. Research backs this up, and so does my many years of personal experience.
Whether you are new to an intentional gratitude practice or hoping to add new ways to your routine, I encourage you to try these ideas and others. I would love to hear from you in the comments section. Have a good day!
