Gratitude Warms 
by Laura Worth, MSW

During December’s windstorm, Robert and I lost power 
for 11 days.  For most of that we were cold.  Really cold. 
And, when we were cold we were truly grateful that we 
weren’t both wet and cold. 

A friend-of-a-friend loaned us his kerosene heater. 
It heated water and warmed us.  We were grateful 
all over again.  It was simple. 

But it was also profound.  It reminded me that I had 
lost sight of a resolve I made years ago that not a day 
would go by without noticing something new to be 
grateful for.  Back then, it had become one of life’s 
“habits of the heart.”  It changed me from a confirmed 
cynic to a proactive optimist.  But somewhere along 
the way, I fell out of the gratitude habit. 

Evidence is emerging that gratitude is one of the 
more fundamental human strengths that contributes to 
our happiness.  By focusing our attention, the choice 
to exercise gratitude becomes a building block to a 
successful emotional life. 

So, can I establish my gratitude habit again? 

Today, a body of scientific evidence in the new field 
of Positive Psychology is showing that we can increase 
our gratitude by focusing on it each day.  This focus can 
take form in list-making, journaling, or conversation. 
New scientific enquiry into human strengths and 
virtues reveals that people are not just born with a 
tendency toward gratitude.  Nor are they born with 
“sunny dispositions.”  Control of these attitudes can be 
learned and exercised at will. 

Just as yoga or exercise can be an important discipline, 
I can decide to be mindful enough to notice gratitude. 
When I reach for the toothpaste in the morning I can 
remember to ask “What one new thing will I be grateful 
for today?” 
 
 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
QUOTE: 

"Most folks are about as happy as they 
make up their minds to be."

                          --Abraham Lincoln

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Design goals that will inspire you to action. 
Hire me as your coach to help you become the 
person you want to be: 

* Call me at (206) 463-9283.
* E-mail me at worthy@coachworth.com.
* Visit me at www.coachworth.com. 
* See me in my office on Vashon and at 
   other locations around Seattle/Tacoma.
 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Laura Worth, MSW is a life and business coach 
on Vashon-Maury Island in Washington.  She coaches 
individuals and groups in person, by phone, or by 
e-mail.  Her special professional organizing consultations 
can include simplicity planning and hands-on assistance 
with organizing your life-stuff. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Laura Worth, MSW
Life and Business Coach
Coaching for the Time of Your Life!

Laura Worth, MSW
P.O. Box 2443
Vashon, WA  98070

(206) 463-9283
worthy@coachworth.com
www.coachworth.com 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To subscribe to the Coaching Minute e-newsletter, please send me 
a return e-mail with "I subscribe" in the subject line. To unsubscribe, 
send me an e-mail with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject. 

Copyright (c) 2007 by Laura Worth. 

These materials may be freely copied and redistributed provided that 
they are distributed as a whole, including the entire signature block, 
this notice, and the subscription details. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~