Why Is Gratitude Such A Big Deal In The Self Help Realm?

When it comes to self development advice, we’re bombarded.

One thread comments on the importance of setting actionable goals. Another strand emphasises the role of visualisation and acting ‘as if.’ A third route professes the strength behind gratitude and just letting things naturally form in their own way: finding the opportunities and just saying Yes.

It’s a big deal in the self-development and wellbeing arena. But on it’s own, it can sound wishy-washy. We know that imagining rainbows and unicorns will not conjure them into being. What good is it to focus on positives, especially ones that are gone? What power is there in ignoring the difficulties, when we need to problem-solve them?

This was a crucial survival tool. Thinking of us as cave-people, remembering and putting a lot of emphasis on the threats, the poisonous berries, the grizzly bear instead of the beautiful sunrise was actually a survival mechanism.

If you things went wrong last time, and you make those same mistakes again, it could kill you. This is why we remember negatives, ruminate on them more, worry about the future based on our negative past-events. In evolution and survival, it makes sense.

And I’m not saying that we shouldn’t ever look back on the difficulties, the lessons learned. In some cases, it’s incredibly helpful to reflect on mistakes: it’s how we improve, grow and learn. In terms of a rooted reinvention, it’s especially important to consider what we’ve already tried and discovered.

However, this means our mind often values, and focuses our time and energy on the things which went wrong, the perceived “threats.” And this is not good for our mental health, our sense…

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