Gratitude is en vogue for good reason. No stronger antidote for unhappiness exists than the daily review of what we are grateful for. Remembering to be grateful is not always easy, however, especially when we get busy and confront numerous challenges throughout the day.
As we face the daily grind of arduous tasks, we often fall prey to thoughts of “have to” and “need to.” Expressions such as, “I have to go through my emails,” and, “I need to prepare for tomorrow’s meeting,” are perfectly normal. They represent an acceptance of our tasks but push us farther from the feelings of gratefulness we desperately need to create personal happiness.
To resist these thoughts and expressions and find our way to gratefulness, we need a different mindset to guide our thinking. We must find a new expression to guide our actions. The most grateful among us choose the expression “get to.” I get to wake up early tomorrow. I get to hug my partner this morning. I get to sip some coffee before I start my day. Gratitude is most aligned with a “get to” way of thinking.
When we move from “have to” and find ourselves in the spirit of “get to,” we loosen the grip of demand and begin to enjoy the freedom and optimism of opportunity. Thoughts and inner voice expressions like, “I get to cook dinner tonight,” “I get to work on that project,” “I get to contribute to our meeting,” place us squarely in the camp of gratitude.
Practiced daily, a get-to orientation puts us into a different frame of mind. We begin to see the world as a place of pleasure and not an onerous set of tasks. “Get to” requires us to think and act positively. More importantly, it excites us with the possibilities of what is yet to come. A get-to mindset represents a more permanent sense of gratefulness.
What do you get to do today?
