Gratitude
Our society these days is fast-paced and often overwhelmingly focused on driving forwards. There’s a lot of pressure to grow, to hustle, and to want what other people look like they have. But there’s a simple, free practice out there whose benefits to your life might surprise you. All it takes is an open mind:
Gratitude.
Think about it: how often do you stop and recognize how much you have to offer? What comforts and joys there are in your life right now, at this moment? How far you’ve come? Instead, we tend to focus more on what we don’t have, the things that are missing or what we want.
So what is gratitude?
Gratitude is simply a thankful appreciation for what you have, whether it be physical things or intangible things. That’s it. The word itself comes from the Latin word gratia, which means grace or gratefulness. It’s about consciously acknowledging the little things in life that go well.
Counting your blessings, if you will.
What it doesn’t mean is being blindly optimistic. Saying “my life is perfect!” when you’re struggling isn’t going to magically cure you from life’s challenges. But it’s choosing to acknowledge the positives as they happen, such as good weather or a friend answering your call when you need them, instead of only focusing on the negative.
It’s a positive emotional response to giving or receiving benefit. And it may sound odd, but this simple practice of thanking yourself, others, or the world around you can have a powerful impact on your wellbeing.
Benefits
There have been numerous studies showing that practicing gratitude can have a positive impact on your mental health and even your physical health. The more you intentionally look for something, the more you’ll find it. So people who actively open themselves to the good around them are more likely to experience their lives more positively.
From a health perspective, gratitude has been shown to:
Improve sleep patterns
Strengthen your immune system
Improve cardiovascular functioning
Just to name a few of the physiological health benefits! Psychologically, it can help improve mood and overall happiness, reduce the likelihood of burnout, and increase your resiliency. It releases us from toxic emotions
It can also help how you are relating to others. Studies have shown that people who practice gratitude tend to engage in more philanthropy and have better interpersonal relationships. They are more mindful and aware of expressing or showing their gratitude to others.
Practices
There are many ways to practice gratitude that have gained popularity recently, such as “romanticizing your life”, but the truth is it doesn’t have to be complicated or have a fancy name.
There’s 2 main areas of gratitude:
Affirming the good we receive
Acknowledging the role of others
Essentially, you’re not just stopping to smell the roses, but appreciating the people who may water those proverbial roses with you.
Here are some practical ways to improve your gratitude and help it become a healthy habit:
Keep a gratitude journal or list
Reflect on your progress
Say “thank you” often
End each day with acknowledging 3 things that went well
Use your 5 senses
Practice grounding or mindfulness
Even if it is simply smiling when the sun hits your face just right, welcome the feeling and enjoy it. That’s gratitude.
