Gratitude & Grace

Fr. Dan and Richard discuss the importance and practice of gratitude and grace.

Integrations

We all have people that have made a huge difference in our lives, such as a friend, teacher, coach, or a family member. Unfortunately, we often don’t express gratitude to them, even though it can be a mutually enriching gift to do so. Your Integration this week is to write a letter of gratitude to someone you care about and has made a difference in your life.

Who is someone that made your life better, but you have never properly thanked? Take 15-30 minutes to write a genuine thank you to that person that explains how they made an impact on your life and why they are important to you. Include specific details, and aim for 250 words or so. Then deliver your letter to the person you would like to thank. Just ask to talk but don’t tell them why ahead of time.

Cultivating gratitude can be a powerful way to live happier lives. From the perspective of Christian faith, it is a response of love to the God who first loved us. One way to do this is through a traditional Catholic practice called the Examen. Popularized by St. Ignatius of Loyola, the Examen helps us write down what we are grateful for at the end of a day.

Your Integration is to practice the Examen every night this week. Set aside a few minutes at the end of each day to follow the steps below. While there are many forms of the Examen to experiment with, the basic steps in the handout are an excellent place to start.

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About the Podcast:

Meaningful conversations about the things that matter most to people: their purpose, identity, and direction in life.  Hosted by Fr. Dan Groody, Vice President and Associate Provost at the University of Notre Dame.