The Gratitude Experiment

I am proud to be an American, though not by birth. So, for me, Thanksgiving is not so much a holiday as a habit. Long weekend, lots of food, family and clean up.

But this year, due in part to the influence of such social media outlets such as Facebook — Thanksgiving, or the giving of thanks, rather — was inescapable. So, these open displays of gratitude made me stop and think about the act of giving thanks in my own life.

Although I am a great fan of turkey, I have never been entirely married to the concept of the Thanksgiving holiday. It has always seemed incongruous to me that one must wait until the third week in November each year to give thanks. This year, when I stopped — really stopped — to reflect on what I am thankful for and the extensive reasons I have to give thanks, I realized that gratitude is more of an attitude than an act.

And therein began my “gratitude experiment”:

AKA my “attitude of gratitude,” this top secret experiment was known only to me, my fridge’s white board and the walls of my apartment. Although a covert attitude makeover on my part, the overt results of this experiment astonished even me and could not be kept secret from the rest of the world with whom I interact.

HYPOTHESIS: If you (me) find things for which to be grateful on a daily, even hourly basis, your attitude will change – anxieties will dissipate, frustrations melt, and optimism be restored.

Within the first day, I went from a working hypothesis to a provisional one. Concerns over belly fat became gratitude for the freedom and financial ability to visit Whole Foods. Frustrations over a seemingly never-ending project became gratitude for the flexibility to work on a project freelance instead of at a full time job. Exhaustion at the thought of another 40 mile drive to see my family left me guilt-ridden at the thought of those who do not have families close by or at all to visit.

It took little to no time for my hypothesis to become a firm theory. From my “gratitude experiment” was born a plausible general principle — act grateful and you will feel grateful — which solidified itself into a new found personal principle of behavior and hope.

So, I leave you with this:

80 percent of the effects come from 20 percent of the causes according to Joseph M. Juran, a business management expert and founder of the Pareto Principle, or the 80-20 Principle.

By translating 20% of my questioning, frustrations and ingratitude into small thoughts of thankfulness, I believe I am 80% (truth be told, 100%) more of an emotionally balanced, effective and giving person than when said “gratitude experiment” began.

Leaving the turkey behind us, let’s make every day Thanksgiving Day.

Wishing You Success,
Natalya