Gratitude Walking, Not Gratitude Writing
By Quinn Simpson
For years, I’ve wondered where the obsession with gratitude journals comes from, beyond the research, of course. The act of forcing myself to note three things every day doesn’t feel right. Even when I’ve practised more regularly, the experience often feels like I’m taking instructions from someone who doesn’t know me.
Instead, I prefer ‘gratitude walking’, which I personally would define as ‘the active state of looking for what to be grateful for and acknowledging all the little and big things.’
During my years studying at the University of Edinburgh, I walked a 30-minute journey to and from George Square nearly every day. That gave me plenty of time to acknowledge gargoyles sat upon roof tops, the famous castle, Arthur’s seat, bag pipes echoing in the distance, smells of hops in the cool fresh air, and all the people as they passed. The memories are so visceral, I can close my eyes and be back there in any instant.
Today, in my life as a mother, I find myself doing the same type of gratitude walking every morning and night in my children’s bedrooms as I open and shut their curtains. I take a moment to appreciate their physical space, their uniqueness as humans, the home we’ve built together and the life I adore. No one makes me do this and no one knows as I’m doing it. I do it for me – for my mental health. And, for the mental health of those around me.
A few weeks ago, I was on a panel for mental health awareness week and asked, “What resources do you use to support your mental health?” Naturally, I shared how coaching skills create meaningful relationships and how these relationships are vital to mental health. But if I could answer again, I would also speak to something slightly less tangible.
I would talk about the quality of our internal dialogue and how we can use self-coaching to improve our lives. The mind games we play inside our bodies either make or break our day, week, month, year, decade...or even life. My chosen mind game is self-coaching, and I use it daily to explore my thoughts and feelings, motivate my actions and gain perspective.
Sharing my practice of gratitude walking is by no means encouragement for you to start doing the same. Instead, find a practice that works for you. Make it up, ask a friend, source research backed tools, it doesn’t matter to me.