Take a moment to read the story below.
An old Cherokee was teaching his grandson about life.
“A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy. “It is a terrible fight, and it is between two wolves. One is evil — he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego.”
He continued, “The other is good — he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith. The same fight is going on inside you, and inside every other person, too.”
The grandson thought for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?”
The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”
Gratitude is a great meal to feed your wolf each day. Many times in life, we wait for big moments to celebrate and appreciate things. A big moment could be a holiday that reminds us to give thanks to our families, or it could be an achievement at work that reminds us to be grateful for our teammates and the opportunities we have been given.
There is a famous quote by author Robert Brault that says, “Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” To practice gratitude, you have to learn to appreciate the small things just as much as the big.
Appreciate the sunrise as you head out for your morning walk. Be thankful for your able body that allows you to work out and gain energy for the day. Be grateful for your community and support system who encourage you daily.
We can all practice gratitude, and doing so has the ability to positively influence us physically and mentally. In fact, research shows that focusing on gratitude can improve your overall well-being. It can lead to a stronger immune system, lower blood pressure, improved sleep, and a greater capacity for experiencing positive emotions.
Make time each day to think about all that you are grateful for.
By: Lauren Scotti