Impromptu Gratitude

Fragments from imaginary dialogues

“What is impromptu gratitude?”

“It’s an unplanned micro-practice you can do anywhere at any time, improv style.

I like to initiate it with a mantra:

Thank you for my Gifts.“

“Why not simply ‘Thank you?'”

“I’m working with representations [<link; medium read]. By thinking of something as a gift, you’re priming yourself to see and feel it as a gift.

After I say the mantra, I start mentally naming things and expressing heartfelt gratitude for them. I don’t try to control the process. It’s always the first thing that comes to mind, or whatever draws my eye in the environment around me.”

“How many things do you express gratitude for?”

“I don’t have a set number. Each builds upon the other, producing an emotional flooding [<link; short read] effect.”

“A micro-moment of positivity [<link; medium read]?”

“Indeed.”

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