This post of my Gratitude works! series doesn’t tell you how to practise Gratitude, but what it can do for you.
As a reminder Gratitude is a deep and genuine feeling that gives us a sense of appreciation for what we have in our lives and for who we are, in all our imperfections. For things big and small.
You know that feeling when you are full of appreciation for a friend of yours who just did something really nice for you and you feel so grateful to have them in your life.
Your whole being lights up and you feel filled up with love for them which usually transforms into feeling immensely happy, smiley and simply pleased with your life.
Gratitude is an action and an essence of wellness. People who feel grateful, who are thankful and appreciative also feel more loving and joyful, express more compassion towards others and are more inclined to help and be kind to colleagues, friends and fellow human beings.
Research shows that family/friends/children and spouses of a grateful person, say that they find them generally more outgoing, happy, kind, helpful, more trustworthy and optimistic.
Expressing gratitude doesn‘t necessarily come naturally to all of us, but we certainly can all learn to be more grateful and appreciative in our lives.
Being grateful is like any other habit, it takes time and discipline to cultivate a positive attitude towards life. But with commitment, you wake up one morning and realize that you see all the good around you.
Gratitude takes us outside of our own world and makes us part of something bigger than ourselves and promotes a healthy positive state of mind. It helps us to maintain, strengthen and deepen relationships. Everyone likes to feel appreciated after all!
‘Reflecting on moments of our day for which we are thankful for can significally increase our well-being and life satisfaction‘ says psychologist Robert Emmons who has done intense studying of the nature of Gratitude and the impact of it on our psychology.
I am a big advocate of being mindful of our energy levels and living in the moment through practises like meditation. Meditation however, needs a little bit of grounding and the right space to get into, while gratitude is triggered through a simple shift in our mindset and when coupled with a heartfelt feeling of appreciation it works instantaneously no matter where you are.
Gratitude can help us to recognise the good things and positive details in even difficult situations, helping us to change our mood and see life from a brighter perspective. It points us back to what is important in that matter and to see the opportunities within the challenges.
When gratitude is our starting point, everything changes.
This is particularly true when we’re stepping into something that triggers anxiety. Gratitude is the antidote to anxiety. Gratitude is the balm for “I don’t have enough and I am not enough.” When we shift our attention to what we already have, and who we really are, we realize that we are already rich beyond measure and that we have something unique and valuable to offer.
Do not underestimate this as it is a foundational building block in your life, your business, your relationship.
You will be amazed to see what can unfold.
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More benefits of gratitude, which I have noticed in my own life or the life of others:
(And if your experience with gratitude is missing but worth sharing, would you mind sending me a brief email or to leave a comment below, as I would love to add it to the list. Thank you so much for your contribution x)
- Gratitude can improve your physical health. People who exhibit gratitude report fewer aches and pains, a general feeling of health, more regular exercise, than those who don’t.
- Grateful people enjoy higher well-being and happiness and suffer from less symptoms of depression.
- You may improve your sleep. Practising gratitude regularly can help you sleep longer and better.
- Gratitude can help to enhance your self-esteem. People who are grateful have increased self-esteem, because they learn to appreciate themselves more and learn to appreciate other peoples’ accomplishments without feeling jealousy or resentment towards them.
- Practising daily gratitude in your favourite ways can help to enhance your resilience and you learn to bounce back from stressful situations quicker by noticing the good happening around you despite of what is going on with you.
- You learn to be more compassionate and loving towards yourself.
- You discover personal insights about yourself which can help to release negative patterns you may have
- You attract more good into your life
- You notice life becomes magical and wonderful most of the time. And the times that aren‘t so pleasant vanish quicker.
Now we would love to hear your experience with gratitude either practised by you or received from people around you. Leave a comment below.
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