A Simple Life Hack For Building A Gratitude Habit

This is part of the "Mindful Minutes" series – a collection of short talks by Scott Shute, head of Mindfulness & Compassion at LinkedIn, aimed at helping you develop a more mindful approach to your daily life.

Encoded in our DNAs is a "negativity bias" that allows us to avoid threats and dangers. However, in order to achieve a Growth Mindset and make us fit for modern life, it is necessary to shift our perspective by practicing gratitude. Scott shares a simple trick on how we can start to do just that.

Transcript

Hi,

I'm Scott Schuett.

I lead our mindfulness and compassion programs at LinkedIn.

Today,

We're going to talk about gratitude.

One of the most important practices to build a growth mindset is gratitude.

The simple act of keeping a gratitude journal,

Writing down three things you're grateful for each day,

Has powerful effects.

People who practice gratitude are measurably happier,

Have less stress,

And have more optimism.

Gratitude also acts as a superpower for our other self-improvement activities.

Studies show that we're more likely to stick with our diets and our exercise plans if we practice gratitude.

As humans,

We generally have a negativity bias,

Focusing on perceived threats or worries.

It's a natural instinct that helped keep us alive as we evolved as a species,

But can be less helpful in our modern life.

Gratitude helps us reorient our thinking,

Becoming more aware of and appreciating the things in our life that we value.

To help build a gratitude practice into your daily habits,

Here's a simple life hack.

First,

Buy a journal.

The act of picking out and purchasing a journal that you like is a strong intention.

And then,

Put that journal on top of your pillow.

When it's time for sleep,

You've got to move the journal to get into bed.

And since you're already picking it up,

You might as well write in it.

There are many ways to practice gratitude,

With your family at the dinner table,

Sharing in a team meeting,

Making lists of things you're grateful for while commuting in the car or train.

Whichever way you choose,

Enjoy it.

Because to be grateful is to be happy.

And I am grateful for you.

Reviews

Thank you for this wonderful reminder and the quick tip. 🙏

Great simple suggestion I will implement! Thank you.

Short and sweet I guess anytime of the day is a good time to do a journaling for gratitude. I normally think of it more of a morning practice, but never thought it was a good night practice, but I will start that this evening. Thank you.

I’m excited to start logging the things I am grateful for. also the act of writing it down and acknowledging it on paper seems to resonate better for me than just saying it out loud. Thank you for the insight!

Thank you for the advice about how to start a gratitude practice.

Interesting how gratitude will affect your eating and exercising! I awake every morning feeling gratitude, but writing it down… would be the next step!!

I have been keeping gratitude journals for over 12 years. I will say I am a inspiring, joyful person. I love looking back from time to time. I look at what I was grateful for 10 years ago and what I am grateful for today. My gratitude is at a much deeper level now. I love the idea of placing it on your pillow. I am glad I picked your talk today. Thank you for sharing.

Loved this short piece. Sa gratitude journal is easy to adopt in my life with your great ideas!! Thanks ! And Thanks!

Definitely will try. Used to keep a gratitude journal then stopped for some reason . I’m not any happier😉 So will try again.
Thank you ☮️

Great reminder to keep that gratitude journal. I’m grateful for you!

I'm grateful humble a Christian Actor singer with Courage Love and a Purpose and so it is Amen 🙏

Perfect and Divine! Thank you Scott. I truly appreciate you and I am so grateful I am touched by your presence and Soul. ✨❤️✨

Great idea & great insights into how & why gratitude journaling so helpful. Thank you. Namaste 🙏

Thank you

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Wonderful thank you for this talk this morning I thank you for sharing it with all of us Namaste my friend 🙏🏼🌞

Thank you 🙏🏼

Perfect reminder 😊 for which I am very grateful 😁

I have a gratitude journal but forget to write in it. On the pillows is a great idea. Thanks

Great idea to put the gratitude journal on pillow so more inclined to write in it before bed. Thank you for sharing your practical ideas of how to implement desired growth. With gratitude. 🙏🙂

Perfect length, full of enthusiasm and practicality as well. Thank you for sharing this with us here. I see the light in you. 🤲🏻❤️🤲🏻