You’ve probably heard the statement, “attitude of gratitude.”
Basically meaning, being intentional about expressing appreciation regularly for the things in our life - big or small and even in difficult circumstances.
I immediately can think of people I know who live this out in such beautiful ways and their thankfulness, especially when going through a challenge has deeply impacted my perspective of gratitude.
Gratitude is a powerful practice.
It nurtures connection, resilience, and delight in our lives.
Shifting our focus from what is missing to what is already around us enhances our well-being and deepens our relationships.
We see the abundance so we express appreciation to those around us instead of risk taking others for granted, appearing entitled, or dissatisfied.
Recognizing and showing gratitude enriches our lives too as it fosters peace, reduces stress, builds resilience, and can even rewire your brain in positive ways.
Adding an attitude of gratitude into your day can be an easy transition.
Simple Expressions | “I appreciate you” as it comes up in your day or send a text, call, write if it is someone you don’t see regularly.
Pray | Take time for prayer and give thanks. Colossians 3:17 says, "And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him".
Practice Mindful Gratitude / Meditate | pause throughout the day to acknowledge the good you’re experiencing around you.
Keep a Gratitude Journal | write down three things you’re thankful for each day.
We will each view and approach gratitude from a different angle.
For some it will come easily, for others it will take some practice.
Here are some possible struggles each Enneagram Type might experience when focusing on gratitude:
Type 1 (The Reformer) – Struggles with Accepting Imperfection
Type 2 (The Helper) – Struggles with Self-Gratitude
Type 3 (The Achiever) – Struggles with Slowing Down
Type 4 (The Individualist) – Struggles with Comparison
Type 5 (The Investigator) – Struggles with Emotional Expression
Type 6 (The Loyalist) – Struggles with Fear and Anxiety
Type 7 (The Enthusiast) – Struggles with Contentment
Type 8 (The Challenger) – Struggles with Vulnerability
Type 9 (The Peacemaker) – Struggles with Active Engagement
Regardless of what the struggle area might be in our life when it comes to recognizing gratitude, we can all do it at some level.
Even if it takes time to feel natural or genuine - remember to extend yourself grace.
Each Enneagram Type also expresses gratitude in different ways.
Check out the Gaining Growth in Gratitude Guide to see specifically how each type can struggle but also how they beautifully express gratitude in their own life and towards others.
As you read through the guide, take a minute to ponder the description of your type - is it an accurate representation?
If you aren’t sure which type you are, take note of which statements resonate - this could be an indicator of your type.
There are benefits of intentional gratitude for all of us.
Taking the time to recognize and appreciate the good around us will cultivate a heart to see abundance rather than scarcity.
A few moments a day of acknowledging gratitude can shift our outlook and enrich our connection to those around us.
As we practice gratitude, we’ll discover more reasons to be grateful.
Growing in Gratitude,
Katie and Kristan
UPCOMING EVENT…on Monday, February 10th (7pm MST) we are LAUNCHING a monthly call for our community. Join us to ask Enneagram or coaching questions. It’s an open invitation for an open conversation. Find out more about “Uncharted Conversations with Katie and Kristan”.
We could chat about gratitude or any of the other 5Gs for Gaining Growth. GUIDE TO GROWTH | GRATITUDE FOR ALL ENNEAGRAM TYPES
Are you ready to take the next steps towards growth in your life or curious what that would even look like? Let’s chat. We offer a complimentary Discovery Call to talk about your desired outcomes and how we can help you along the way.
If you’d like to read more about the impact gratitude has on the brain, here are a few articles to support the research: