"Most human beings have an almost infinite capacity for taking things for granted."

"Most human beings have an almost infinite capacity for taking things for granted."

-Aldous Huxley, (1894 - 1963) English writer

Do you have a practice for dealing with daily stress? We thought we’d share a simple and surprisingly effective exercise you can do each day that will not only boost your spirits, but lighten the perceived burden of “the daily grind.”

No running shoes required! You can do it without breaking a sweat, right from the comfort of your car, your desk, or even the line at Starbucks.

It sounds simple, but it’s quite powerful: Each day, think of five things you're grateful for. They don't have to be big things. In fact, it's great to start with the little things. It helps get you in the flow.

Start with one or two basic things you take for granted, for example: "I'm grateful for a hot shower in the morning." Or: "I'm grateful for heat and electricity." 

Come up with five new things each time you practice. You might find this challenging at first. There should be a little struggle, but push through it. "I'm grateful for the smile of the guy at the bagel shop." Or: "I'm grateful for my family dinner on Sundays." Or: the joy that my clients express when the buying process is easier than what they've seen on tv.

It might seem silly at first, but you'll notice that the more you express your gratitude, the more you'll connect to a general feeling of benevolence for others and well-being. Really take a moment for each simple gratitude to sink in. Visualize what you're grateful for and recall experiencing it. We had a severe Ice storm that caused a community power outage for two days and we were so grateful for our first shower and the feel of heat after two days.

This gratitude exercise connects you to the world in a positive way. It makes the trivial annoyances in life sting less, and reminds you to note what it is in the world you truly appreciate. When your focus shifts to gratitude, your attitude improves.