The Importance Of Gratitude Attitude And How It Makes Life More Beautiful

For those of us touched by autism, life often comes with profound challenges – difficulties with communication, sensory issues, managing change, or connecting with others. But amidst the struggles, there are also remarkable joys, talents, relationships and insights granted by the autism experience.

Cultivating a gratitude attitude allows individuals on the spectrum as well as those who love them to fully appreciate and delight in the gifts autism brings.

A gratitude attitude shifts the mindset from lack and limitation to abundance and empowerment. With this, individuals can find calm, joy and life satisfaction even amidst ongoing difficulties.

There are many simple yet powerful ways for people with autism and loved ones to build a gratitude attitude into daily life.

By focusing on what we’re thankful for, we train our brains to see the positive and open our hearts to delight. A gratitude attitude transforms autism from a curse into a teacher.

Family Gratitude Rituals

One wonderful way families touched by autism can foster gratitude attitude is to establish regular household rituals and practices. These might include:

• Keeping a shared family gratitude journal. Each day, have everyone write down one or two things they’re grateful for. Small daily moments of joy and connection get recorded over time. Periodically read back over the journal together.
• Doing gratitude reflection at dinner by having everyone share something they appreciate from that day. Hearing “thank you” and positive moments spoken aloud reinforces gratitude.
• Creating a visible gratitude board where family members post notes or pictures of what they’re grateful for. Seeing this collage reinforces thankfulness.
• Setting a daily reminder like a phone alert, chime, or bell that signals it’s time to express gratitude, say a mantra, or appreciate the moment.
• Establishing bedtime routines where parents ask children about their day’s blessings and children thank parents for specific actions. These loving rituals instill thankfulness into the very fabric of family life.

Personal Gratitude Attitude Practices

Individuals with autism can also cultivate the gratitude attitude mindset through personal practices such as:

• Keeping a gratitude journal to record 2-3 small joys or blessings from the day. Consistently writing these down rewires thinking over time.
• Using physical reminders like keeping a gratitude rock in a pocket to touch and remember to be thankful throughout the day.
• Setting phone alerts or apps that remind us to name something we’re grateful for or take a gratitude breathing break.
• Starting or ending each day by reflecting on blessings and saying thank you for them. Consider calling a friend or family member to share.
• Establishing gratitude meditation as part of the daily routine. Visualizing an abundance of gifts flowing in trains positive brain circuits.
• Keeping a positivity jar where we add notes on gifts, accomplishments, acts of kindness or happy memories. Rereading during challenges reminds that blessings exist even in tough times.

Demonstrating A Gratitude Attitude In Tough Times

Practicing gratitude is powerful not just during happy moments, but also in difficult times. During moments of grief, loss, meltdowns, exclusion or loneliness, gratitude helps us remember we’re still blessed. It allows us to witness pain with openness, knowing it will pass.

Some ways to invite gratitude in during trials include:

• Recalling past challenges that brought hidden strengths or wisdom once we made it through. Know that this too shall pass.
• Looking for even tiny blessings within the pain – the comfort of a soft blanket, a loyal pet’s companionship, learning who our true friends are. There is always something to be grateful for.
• Remembering that emotions come in waves. Let gratitude wash over pain when the grief wave passes, even temporarily.
• Reaching out to loved ones and sharing stories of gratitude. Mutual support gets us through.
• Rereading past journal entries where all felt bleak, yet now we feel blessed. This pain too will pass.

For loved ones of those with autism, caregiving stresses can make it hard to stay grounded in gratitude.

Don’t Forget About Self-Care to Maintain Positivity

Self-care practices are key, like:

• Frequently expressing gratitude for the person you care for – both out loud to them and in a journal. This reminds us why this relationship matters.
• Practicing mindful breathing while recalling loved ones’ positive qualities. Balance caregiving burdens with appreciation.
• Counting and appreciating your own blessings regularly. Your own health, passions and relationships also deserve gratitude.
• Recognizing that the most difficult behaviors often communicate unmet needs. Be grateful for the chance to understand and provide support.
• Seeing life’s difficulties as teachers rather than punishments. Even challenges have silver linings if we look for them.

Gratitude Attitude for the Autism Community

Finally, having a gratitude attitude allows us to recognize the gift of community. For a condition that can create isolation, feeling part of a greater whole combats loneliness.

Gratitude practices that foster community bonds include:

• Sending thank you notes or expressing sincere gratitude regularly to teachers, therapists, doctors and other providers who support your loved one’s growth. Recognize you don’t walk this path alone.
• Appreciating friends who make accommodations or adjustments to connect to your loved one with autism. These people deserve gratitude.
• Sharing positive stories and gratitude on social media autism communities. Read others’ posts when you need inspiration or motivation.
• Finding ways to use your own gifts to give back through volunteering, fundraising, or educating. This builds purpose.
• Being gentle with yourself on days community connection feels hard. Focus on the progress made over years, not setbacks of today.

Autism Parenting – It’s a Journey Worthy of Gratitude

For parents of children with autism, the path can sometimes feel long and lonely. But practicing gratitude helps us appreciate each step of the journey. Thankfulness rituals like: 

• Verbally expressing gratitude for your child exactly as they are. All of our children are blessings.
• Appreciating moments of connection, no matter how small – hugs, playtime, smiles. Hold onto these.
• Focusing on progress over time, not day-to-day setbacks. Look back with gratitude over years.
• Being grateful for the gift of getting to know your unique, wonderful child.
• Appreciating yourself and how much you’ve learned on this journey of parenthood.

It’s understandable to sometimes mourn the life you imagined. But a gratitude attitude helps us accept and delight in the life we have. Perfection is not required for gratitude.

Silver Linings of Autism Adulthood 

Navigating the transition to adulthood also poses challenges for those with autism and families. Yet thankfulness practices help us stay hopeful, like:

• Expressing gratitude for any steps towards independence your loved one makes – jobs, living arrangements, handling logistics. Celebrate all progress.
• Focusing on your loved one’s strengths and passions. There are many ways to build a meaningful life.
• Appreciating loved ones exactly as they are on their toughest days. Recognize their challenges and how far they’ve come.
• Being grateful for moments of connection as an adult child learns to stand on their own. Adulthood brings the gift of relating as adults.
• Counting your blessings in finding support, resources, communities. We do not need to walk this path alone.

A grateful heart is one of the most important things in life, it’s such a simple thing but so powerful. A gratitude attitude provides mental stability; you will know that no matter what happens in life, if you are grateful you can survive with a sense of calm and peace.

This is why gratitude is so important. If you learn to appreciate the little things in life, it makes you grateful to be alive. You can see this with any people who make it through great suffering.

Veterans, cancer survivors, suicide survivors, and other people who survived horrible suffering and persevere and make it through the tough times seem to appreciate life more. Examples can include enjoying food more, having fun with people more, and being just happier people. This is why everyone should practice a gratitude attitude, as it makes life more vibrant, colorful, and joyful.

What I’m Grateful For

I’m grateful for having a big family who love each other and we always connect, no matter where we are in the world.

I’m also grateful that we live in a nice home and that my parents didn’t kick me out when I was 18 years old, as some parents do, because rent and other living costs are really high right now.

These are some of the things I appreciate. How about you? It’s good to reflect on what you are grateful for and to write it down, because it really helps to have a gratitude journal. Studies show if you have a clear picture of what you are grateful for, it can do wonders for your mental health.

Life with autism holds unique challenges and joys. By focusing on a gratitude attitude, we see with fresh eyes all that autism gives us. We feel empowered by an abundant mindset, knowing we have the inner gifts to manage anything that comes. Gratitude heals and transforms our lives.

Autism in Adults:  Living, Learning, and Overcoming Challenges for a Fulfilled Life

Autism in adults requires additional support and coping skills to achieve independence in today’s world. Learn more about ways adults can live fulfilled lives and the challenges they face.

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