By Pragya Bhagat:
I live in the mountains of Uttarakhand. Nearly three years ago I left my job to write books. And I am able to do that, every day. My life, I am told by many, is a dream. Then why do I often find myself dissatisfied?
Here’s the thing. I struggle with feeling good about my surroundings if I don’t feel good about myself. There are days when getting out of bed is a challenge. Those are the days I don’t see the mountains, or the crisp sunlight, or the birds hopping on branches. Those are the days I search for positivity within myself and emerge empty-handed.
Not all days are can’t-get-out-of-bed days. Some are can’t-wait-to-go-outside days. Others are I-feel-beautiful days or pancakes-for-breakfast days.
For 2019, I want to build positivity as a habit. And this starts by building gratitude as a habit.
In 2019, I start each entry in my journal with things I’m grateful for.
On January 1, I was grateful for:
My mother
My brother
Chocolate
On January 3, I was grateful for:
Warm water
My favorite tree
Pancakes
On January 5, I was grateful for:
Oranges
Poetry
Instagram
Gratitude, according to positive psychology, comes in two stages. The first is accepting there is goodness in my life, that there is goodness in me. I am not just alive, I have the ability to shape my life, to leave my job, to live in the mountains, to breathe fresh air. I have certain abilities and skills which allow me to earn a livelihood, I have certain values which allow me to make choices. This is extraordinary.
The second stage of gratitude is accepting that some of my goodness arises outside myself. My privilege. My education. My parents. My friends. These aspects of my life continue to influence me in constructive ways. It is this second stage of gratitude that I want to deepen my engagement with.
I am participating in Slam Out Loud’s Gratitude Challenge. While I am not a fan of social media challenges, there are many things I love about this one. I get to express my love for those who’ve shaped me. I get to support a good cause. And most importantly, I get to write on postcards with beautiful art by children.
Interested in participating in the Gratitude Challenge? Here’s how:
1. Purchase postcards with children’s art at tinyurl.com/slamoutloud.
2. Write messages of gratitude and post pictures of the same on Facebook/Instagram. Use the hashtags #slamoutloud and #gratitudechallenge.
3. Tag SlamOutLoud and invite others to participate.
I’m ready to start my year strong. Are you?