There’s nothing quite like a pandemic to put our lives
into perspective, even if it does throw our day-to-day into chaos.
As we adjust to life on lockdown, we’re casting cynicism out with

COVID-19 and probing into positive psychology. Can we cultivate
an attitude of gratitude? Try these simple exercises.

Did

Did
you well up when the UK collectively got off its
self-isolated sofa and clapped for NHS workers battling the
coronavirus? Our hearts were bursting. That’s the power of
gratitude.

When times are tough, being told to be thankful can have the
sting of an insult. Yet we’re not reaching for the rose-tinted
glasses here. Life isn’t perfect. Gratitude simply hones our focus
on the things that should be celebrated. Whether that’s unsung heroes of the current
crisis – healthcare workers, supermarket staff, delivery drivers –
or the fact that you can enjoy a longer lie-in each morning.

The word “gratitude” comes from the Latin “gratia”, meaning both
graciousness and gratefulness. It shows appreciation for the things
we receive – tangible or not – and in turn, recognises that
goodness comes from outside of us, be it through other people, from
nature or even a higher power, if you’re so inclined.

The concept has been bandied around for millennia. “Gratitude is
not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others”
mused Cicero in the 1st century BCE. A century later, Roman senator
Seneca embraced the spirit of stoic gratitude in the face of mortal
suffering. Most major religions – Theravāda Buddhism, Christianity,
Islam, Judaism – also espouse thankfulness as an integral step to
enlightenment.

Today, the emotion has become the poster child of positive
psychology and a go-to for self-help types. Over the past decade,
led by California-based professor of psychology Dr Robert Emmons, scientists have
found a correlation between gratitude and wellbeing. It’s a boon
for our mind and bodies they say; it’s armour against stress and
depression, a shortcut to more fulfilling relationships and better
immunity, a natural remedy for sleepless nights, a boost for
feelings of hope and happiness and a helping hand for our own
self-worth. Of course, this isn’t intended to negate professional
medical help, but when we’re feeling down, anxious, overwhelmed or
all of the above, gratitude can be a great way to lift the
spirits.

We’re not the only ones caving to this joy-breeds-joy law of
attraction. Richard Branson and Arianna Huffington are among the
big names claiming that gratitude is the ticket to the good life.
“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more,” writes
Oprah Winfrey. “If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will
never, ever have enough.” Lady O reportedly writes a list of things
for which she’s thankful each day. “Eating cold melon on a bench in
the sun.” “Maya Angelou calling to read me a new poem.” You get the
gist.

Yet gratitude doesn’t come easy. Our survival instincts focus on
that which could harm us, while our minds are hardwired to like
newness and novelty. We get caught in the vicious cycle of thinking
“if only I had ___ I’d be happy” or “if only I didn’t have to deal
with ___ I’d be content”. But realistically, how long does the buzz
of a new spouse or house, a pay rise or shedding a couple of kilos
really last?

The cynics in us bemoan the commodification of gratitude, too;
that feeling needn’t come with a price tag. You know what, though?
If you need a £9.99 “happiness journal”, a mug emblazoned with an
inspirational quote or a monthly subscription to an app that gets
you into the habit of jotting down a few bullet points, go for it.
You do you.

In a world of haves and have nots, gratitude is a go-to for
those that have had enough. It’s a glass-half-full frame of mind –
and lord knows that most of us could do with a gulp of that right
now.

An attitude of gratitude in five simple steps

Some of these methods may feel contrived or cringeworthy, but
it’s believed that with regular practice – as with deepening your
crow pose or polishing Spanish tenses – our capacity for
thankfulness will come that little easier.