067: How Gratitude Can Improve Your Running and Your Day

Gratitude is an incredibly important quality to carry with you throughout the day.  It frames how you perceive everything around you and tilts the day in a much more positive direction.  

In our busy lives, one of the things that is very easy to skip past is the feeling of thankfulness and gratitude.  Angie and I both like to start the day bringing to mind 1-3 specific things that we are thankful for. She actually takes the time to write them as part of her journaling practice.  Maybe I’ll get there next year.

When the day starts with gratitude and then is followed by a to-do list, this list becomes a series of blessings or challenges that require a solution.  When you open just with the list of items to check off, then each item can become one more thing that you must get through or endure.

From a running perspective, it is a much nicer experience when the run, or the few minutes before you start, can call to mind your thankfulness for being able to get out and run.  You might enjoy nature, solitude, the company of those around you, or the feeling of your own strength. By simply taking a moment to remember why you are running, it can become so much more than just another item to check off during the day.  

When you first start to bring gratitude to running, it can be a bit of a challenge to stay so positive and cheery for the whole run.  Just start with a few minutes at the beginning. Do not force yourself into being thankful. By simply opening your run with thanks, you will be surprised that it shows back up throughout the run and day.  

Once you have woken up with thanks and worked out with gratitude, it’s time to carry that mindset through the whole day.  Over time, frustrating situations will be seen as exciting opportunities and challenges. When you find yourself slipping back into frustration, do not force the gratitude through clenched teeth.  Look around and see if you can make someone else happy. A small act of kindness done for someone else will also brighten your day.

Everyone is a work in progress.  We have talked about goal setting and striving toward greatness.  In the quest to be better, it is helpful to start with a simple task of a genuine expression of gratitude.  I am grateful for everyday. I am grateful for my family, for running, for this podcast community. I am thankful for crisp mornings and beautiful sunrises.  I am thankful for soggy shoes and sweaty runs in the heat. I am grateful

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Don't forget: The information on this website is not intended to treat or diagnose any medical condition or to provide medical advice. It is intended for general education in the areas of health and wellness. All information contained in this site is intended to be educational in nature. Nothing should be considered medical advice for your specific situation.