Redefining gratitude

The Thanksgiving holiday generally sparks the desire to reflect about the meaning gratitude. Several years ago, I noticed this ritual– that started 30 plus years back–left me with an empty feeling.

The act of acknowledging all the goodness that has come my way seemed like a repetitive exercise that had grown boring. Don’t get me wrong. I realize I may sound selfish or entitled. Maybe I am. What I realized over time was that I craved a deeper way to express my feelings of gratitude.

This introspection led me to write the article The Year of Gratitude in Motion in 2009. The premise was that gratitude in motion is more powerful because it includes acting on the feeling of being grateful and spreading that goodness onto others through volunteering and mentoring.

Fast-forward to 2017 and I find myself revisiting the notion of passive versus active gratitude.

Passive gratitude raises awareness. Active gratitude transforms you and those around you.

Passive gratitude starts with self-reflection that evolves—ideally–into self-awareness. This affords us the opportunity to take account of the all the good things in life: our health, having a family, a job, a roof over our heads, a community to connect with. Another way to approach to passive gratitude could prompt us to focus on smaller, yet important things, such as being grateful for just breathing and being alive. It is all about acknowledgement and appreciation in whichever way it happens.

Active gratitude expands that notion and invites us to consider ways to engage with others. How? By sharing our skills, resources—and ourselves– with others. The idea is to act out our gratitude in ways that go beyond us.

Beware: The transformative effect of active gratitude comes from the desire to acknowledge and elevate others through dialogue and action. It is not an opportunity to inflate the ego at the expense of others.

It’s all about them. Not about you.

Dare give it a try?