How does this work? How do you go about cultivating the habit of gratitude? Anybody who has seen the movie “What About Bob?” knows the answer. Baby steps. You become a grateful person baby step by baby step.
If you’ve started writing five things you’re thankful for every day, that’s a big baby step. And, if you want to be sure you do it every day, find a buddy for accountability. You can share your list with him daily, or you can just shoot him quick “I did it” emails.
Here’s another baby step -- reread yesterday’s piece about Sarah Ann and find a Sarah Ann in your life. It can be someone you see all the time or someone you haven’t seen for ages or someone you don’t even know very well. Then say thank you. You can send an email (in under two minutes) or call or write a letter or pay a visit. My guess is you’ll like it so much that you’ll be looking for your second Sarah Ann in no time.
“The unthankful heart . . . discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings.” Henry Ward Beecher