Padre Capt Alexandre Dutil

Welcome to From the Chaplain’s Desk, a feature series that showcases reflections from chaplains serving at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Esquimalt. Each installment offers personal perspectives from those who work closely with members of the Defence Team in times of challenge, transition, and everyday life. These contributions shed light on the role of spiritual and emotional support within the Defence community, and offer guidance, listening, and presence across all stages of life spent in service.

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Gratitude is the feeling of being thankful and showing appreciation for the good things in life. It involves recognizing and valuing what we have, rather than focusing on what we lack. 

Today, many studies demonstrate that practising gratitude has a significant impact on happiness, relationships, and even physical health. We might naturally assume that happiness leads to gratitude, that happy people are the ones that are grateful, but research suggests the opposite: being grateful is what leads to happiness. 

Gratitude shifts our mindset. By focusing on positive emotions rather than negative ones, how we see the world and experience life can transform. 

At every moment, one has the choice to be bitter or grateful. While there may be times when bitterness feels justified, there is always a reason to be grateful. We have this precise moment of existence for ourselves. Here are a few practical ways to cultivate gratitude and move towards happiness: 

  • Write a thank-you note: take time to write a note to someone you have not properly thanked. If possible, share it with them.  
  • Give thanks silently: if you cannot thank someone in person, pause and express gratitude silently, in your thoughts. 
  • Keep a gratitude journal: write down the things you are grateful for and revisit your journal when discouraged or upset. 
  • Connect with family and friends: spend time with those you love and let them know how much you appreciate them.  
  • Honour your environment: take time to observe the world around you — nature, the weather, your surroundings. This combination of the elements is unique since it will never come again in its exact form at this exact moment. 
  • See each moment as a gift: you may not feel grateful for everything in life, but you can choose to show gratitude for every moment. 
  • Count your blessings: at the end of each day, spend some time to reflect and identify what you are thankful for. 
  • Meditate: practise mindfulness or meditation to remain present and grounded in the moment. 
  • Pray: if you are a person of faith, offer prayers of thanksgiving and gratitude. 
  • Practice the “Stop, Look, Go” method: Brother David Steindl-Rast suggests pausing during your day as such: stop what you are doing, look around with awareness, and then move forward with intention. This simple practice can help you reset and centre yourself throughout the day. 

By intentionally practising gratitude, we can begin to reshape not only our thoughts, but also our hearts. Over time, we notice a quiet transformation: what once felt heavy becomes lighter; what once seemed lacking begins to feel sufficient, perhaps even abundant. Gratitude does not remove life challenges, but it can give us the strength and clarity to face them differently. 

Happiness, then, is no longer something distant or dependent on circumstances. It becomes something we gently grow within ourselves. So today, take a moment. Pause. Notice. Give thanks. In doing so, allow yourself to perhaps grow in happiness.  

Chaplains can be reached through a call to the Naden Chapel at 250-363-4106 during regular office hours.  
For after-hours support, call Military Police dispatch at (250) 363-4032 to connect to a duty padre.