Gratitude is one of the most powerful ways for us to get a happiness boost.
Several studies have shown that people who regularly practice gratitude feel happier, have better self-esteem, are more satisfied with life, sleep better, and have improved mental and physical health.
As human beings, we tend to focus on the negative and what we worry about rather than the positive and what makes us happy. It’s completely normal and it just makes us human.
With a simple daily practice, we can prepare our brain to actively look for and more easily identify positive moments throughout the day.
By making it a daily habit to reflect on what we’re grateful for, we give ourselves the chance to:
• Learn about ourselves – how we think, feel and what we really value in life.
• Increase our appreciation for others – it reminds us of how grateful we are for the people around us.
• Deepen our gratitude for life – seeing things from a different perspective and in a different light gives us a more positive outlook on life, makes us feel more content and appreciate what we already have.
Of course, we shouldn’t completely ignore the bad things in our life, but becoming aware and practicing shifting our focus and attention to the positive can give us a more balanced mind-set and a greater sense of well-being. Even when things are tough, if we look deep enough, there is always something we can be thankful for, no matter how small.
There are no rules for what you can be grateful for and it doesn’t matter how big or small it is. It’s your thoughts and you never have to tell anyone else what you’re thinking, so you can be completely honest with yourself:)
Tip. As you’re practicing, take a few deep breaths and feel the gratitude in your body. Really notice how it makes you feel.
There are many ways to practice gratitude, but here are four of my favourites:
1. (My favourite) When you first wake up in the morning, before you get out of bed, and especially before reaching for your phone, think of three things you are grateful for.
Our first thoughts in the morning can have a huge impact on the attitude, emotions and energy we carry with us throughout the day.
Doing this has totally transformed my mornings and how I feel when I get out of bed. The best part is that it only takes a few seconds to do. Win win!
2. At the end of each day, take a few moments to reflect and think of at least three things that happened during the day that you are thankful for. Have a notebook where you write everything down. Put it somewhere you can see it, so you are reminded everyday and can easily make it a habit.
3. Practice gratitude if you are worried about something, find yourself in a challenging situation or feel like complaining. Notice how much better you feel when you shift your focus to what you are grateful for instead.
4. If you are grateful for someone or something someone did for you, tell them about it! Or why not do something nice for them to show your appreciation. It’s been proven that being kind to others makes us instantly feel better.
“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.”
~William Arthur Ward
☀️ So What or Who are you grateful for today?
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