Four Lessons from Posting Gratitude for 21 Days On Social Media
Thanksgiving is fast approaching, however, it’s not the only time of the year where we can think about what we are grateful for and why.
Have you heard of the 21 day challenge?
It’s a simple concept: for 21 days you post what you’re grateful for on social media.
When I got tagged in the challenge, I didn’t expect much. Maybe I would get rid of some of the anger I had been feeling lately from work and one relationship that had ended. I’m always gravitating towards things like this challenge, so I went all in.
The things that kept me going: a group of friends was joining me in the challenge through the social media means of facebook. For a change, positivity would be added into my feed which normally contains politics, selfies and assorted things that I can’t always relate to. I needed to remind myself occasionally that this was not a comparison game. The only real focus was to list three or four good things in my own life and celebrate with others.
I posted mine first thing in the morning, which encouraged non-comparison with someone else’s list that I didn’t feel the need to compare (I was already grateful for things). I also realized daily that even when in a time where I questioned if anything in my life was good, there were still things to be grateful for. Posting specific posts also had the unexpected effect of uplifting others around me. There were two friends who reached out to me during the 21 days to express gratitude for the encouragement.
The Four Lessons This Challenge Has to Offer
Lesson 1: Gratitude ties us to the present
“Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn’t learn a little, at least we didn’t get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn’t die; so, let us all be thankful.” — Buddha
When practicing gratitude, we realize what is really important and what is not. This realization encourages us to invest our time in the important stuff. It encourages us to be better friends, relatives and memory makes. We spend more time with those we are grateful for and spending time doing what we are grateful for. We find less excuses to make time for the things we identify as important.
Gratitude also adds an extra perspective into things. For example, the anger I had been dealing with was due to an ending relationship that I couldn’t let go of. However, in looking through the gift that had been the presence of my friend in the past, I was able to process his leaving more easily. I was grateful that he had been given the opportunity to change more lives. Even though it meant that we no longer had time to communicate, the easier path was to let him go to do what he needed to do. Without looking at the lessons from this relationship, I would not have been able to let go of the anger.
Lesson 2: Gratitude trains our brains
“Gratitude will shift you to a higher frequency, and you will attract much better things.” — Rhonda Byrne
Our mind is subject to what we feed it. The things that we look for on a regular basis are the things that our mind is cued into looking for. So, if we focus on negative things and past hurts, we begin to see negativity everywhere. We eventually gravitate towards beginning to feel on edge and angry. At that point, almost nothing can look bright and shining in our minds.
However, looking for the blessings and positives and blessings throughout the day trains our mind to look for more of the same. We begin to gravitate towards things that uplift us, encourage us or inspire us. This training leads us to be happier in the moment. That happiness begins to reach out to others in a way that can transform their day.
Lesson 3: Having a positive influence on social media is not that hard
“Gratitude helps you to grow and expand; gratitude brings joy and laughter into your life and into the lives of all those around you.” — Eileen Caddy
Towards the end of the second week, I began thinking about what kind of presence I have on social media. For years, social media has had influence and power that can impact our thoughts and behavior.
For example: When we see other’s vacations, relationships, wardrobes or new cars, does that make us feel less than or cause us to compare our lives and belongings with theirs?
For the past three years, I’ve gone on month long or longer social media challenges because of the impact that things like this have had on me.
If nothing else, the gratitude challenge reminded me that I want to be a positive voice on social media.
For me, this means having an arsenal of quotes, memes, useful tips for emotional wellness and gratitude posts will predominate my personal page. Sure, I’ll still throw in a few behind the scenes photos of my life (it’s social). However, my main focus is having a willing heart to become a voice of positivity and inspiration.
Lesson 4: Gratitude Challenges Help Us to Live Better:
“Gratitude should always be our first response for all the blessings in our lives. Our second response should be to live a life worthy of all the blessings we receive” -Matthew Kelly
Each one of us has something to be grateful for. Whether that involves a small, steady flow of small and simple blessings or a few major gifts that we have been given. Once we realize this, gratitude is almost an automatic reaction. We begin to focus on these things as a way to multiply them. This is simply the beginning however. Once this realization has occurred, it’s up to us to continue to live in a way that brings gratitude to our lives. The best way to do that is to be able to invest in others with our time, energy and to give on a regular basis. It’s a cycle: we have, choose to give away some of it, and reap more in return. It’s up to us to decide how we want to incorporate this flow into our lives and show gratitude in return for what we have.
It can start as easily as doing a 21 day challenge. Take 21 days to notice the simple things that are great and more will follow. It will begin to change your viewpoint and might even help you to let go of the things in the past that bring you down. It will be life changing.
