“Gratitude is a powerful process for shifting your energy and bringing more of what you want into your life. Be grateful for what you already have and you will attract more good things.”
Rhonda Byrne
It’s easier said than done. Do you practice gratitude as part of your daily life? You might be surprised to discover that the act of being grateful can do so much for your well-being. Feeling grateful should be part of our daily routine and not just limited to a holiday in November.
What does Gratitude actually mean?
Gratitude is the appreciation of what is valuable and meaningful to oneself; it is a general state of thankfulness and/or appreciation, according to the NCBI.
How much are you actually grateful for every day? Do you tend to focus on the little (and sometimes big) negatives, or do you look for ways to be grateful? Before you start thinking this is some new age stuff, check this out…
Why does Gratitude matter?
“Gratitude is one of the most medicinal emotions we can feel. It elevates our moods and fills us with joy.”
Sara Avant Stove
You set the tone of your day by your attitude. Someone cuts you off in traffic on the way to work. Do you let it ruin your day, or do you focus on being grateful that you got safely to work, and that you have a job?
In a study, participants were divided and journaled in one of three ways: hassles, gratitude, or social comparison. They then kept a record of their moods, health behaviors, and overall well-being. Those who focused on gratitude had the best overall feelings of well-being.
So what can you be grateful for?
- If you have food to eat today, be grateful, since not everyone does.
- Are you wearing freshly washed clothes? Not everyone can.
- Are your senses working to smell and taste your morning cup o’ joe? Be grateful for that!
- Do you have a spouse, partner, or friends to enjoy life with? Be grateful.
- You may not love your job, but you still have a way to provide for yourself and your family, so be grateful.
I’m betting if you sit back and think about what you have, you’ll find that you have plenty to focus your gratitude on.
Here are the proven benefits of gratitude
“Gratitude opens the door to the power, the wisdom, the creativity of the universe. You open the door through gratitude.”
Deepak Chopra
Gratitude has impressive benefits that you can take advantage of (from Psychology Today).
- You can improve your relationships and meet new people. A Verbal “thank you,” a written “Thank you” card, or even just acknowledging the contributions of others builds your interpersonal relationships.
- You can improve your psychological health. By focusing on gratitude, you clear out the toxic thoughts that follow you throughout the day.
- You also improve your physical health. When you are grateful, you not only feel fewer aches and pains, but you also feel generally better and are more likely to take action toward good health.
- You experience more empathy and less aggression. Have you ever encountered someone who is simply a disagreeable person? Gratitude increases your ability to focus less on retaliation and more on behaving kindly.
- You’ll sleep better. Keep a small journal with you. You can scribble a few thoughts about what makes you grateful. Write at least 3 final gratitude thoughts before bed, and you’ll sleep better.
- You’ll get a spike to your self-esteem. When you practice gratitude, you’ll be thankful for what you have. If you can focus on your gifts and less on what others have, you’ll never feel like you’re comparing yourself with someone else.
- And you’ll boost your mental strength. Simply put, even in the worst of times, if you can feel grateful for what you have, instead of what you do not have, you can triumph.
So take a look at all you have. Quit worrying about anyone else. Be grateful for the gifts you possess. Be grateful for your emotional and physical traits, the special people, pets and things in your life, and just be grateful that you are simply amazing.
Check out some additional reasons to be thankful!
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