I’ve been talking/teaching about this for weeks now. In my group courses and workshops the topic of gratitude is weaved in to each event.

But guess what? Gratitude isn’t enough.

I’m sure you’ve heard of gratitude journals, evening practices of writing three things down that you’re grateful for. This is nice, even good, but you’re not getting the best bang for your buck.

Last week I talked with a nurse at my Reiki Networking group. In leading a discussion about the Reiki Ideals, I was asking what support looked like to them.

“When in your nursing practice do you feel supported? When you have the support of the healthcare system, what does that look and feel like?”

One attendee’s response was unforgettable: a dance.

“When we’re in a code or something is going on our unit; we all come together. We just flow. You can feel your team-mates and it’s like we’re in a beautiful dance.”

Notice what she said: you can feel it.

This is what you need with your gratitude practice. Not just to do it, but to feel it.

Bringing in the feeling brings the experience to life. Feeling your gratitude allows more of what you are grateful for to flow to you.

I encourage you this week, as we celebrate our day of giving thanks, to not only express or think about your gratitude- but to feel it.

As you reflect on what you’re grateful for, especially with respect to your career, be mindful to express: “I am grateful for (fill in the blank) because it makes me feel (fill in the blank).”

Let’s uplift our healthcare system. Let’s enjoy our roles as healthcare professionals. Let’s bring more and more love, joy, and healing into the healthcare arena. All by expressing how our gratitude makes us feel…

I’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment, question, or reflection below. And if you celebrate, thanks for reading. It makes me feel loved and appreciated. Happy Thanksgiving!