Gratitude is an attitude of being thankful towards others and one’s self. It helps one be more open minded, happy and live a healthy life.
Practicing gratitude leads to improved well-being. People who practice gratitude report experiencing better emotional health and stronger relationships. In fact, research shows that gratitude promotes happiness and well-being more strongly than money does.
The reason gratitude helps improve well-being is that people are grateful for what they already have, which causes them to appreciate it even more.
As a writer I’ve found myself reflecting on the many things in my life that I am grateful for. For example, even though I’m struggling to keep my business going, I’m grateful to be able to earn a living from what I love doing. I’m also grateful to have a roof over my head, food to eat, and books and movies to read.
When I first started practicing gratitude, I would often wonder what I was supposed to be grateful for, and how I would know if I had achieved enough. I couldn’t seem to do enough to feel completely satisfied. However, now that I’ve made a habit of practising gratitude, I find it easier to identify the moments in my day where I feel grateful and experience greater well-being.
Here are a few strategies I’ve used to help me cultivate gratitude:
- Notice what you have
Whenever you have a chance to notice something about yourself or your surroundings, write down three things you are grateful for. It can be something as big as appreciating the beauty of nature or as small as noticing that you just made it through another week without a migraine.
Write down the details, but don’t worry about making it perfect or detailed. The goal here is just to list things you are thankful for. Don’t judge yourself or try to improve upon them – just notice them and let them sit in your mind.
The more frequently you notice your positive traits and experiences, the more likely you are to feel gratitude towards them.
- Reflect on your progress
After spending a day reflecting on your gratitude list, notice how you feel. Does your mood seem better? Do you have a greater appreciation for the people around you and your surroundings?
Reflecting on gratitude helps remind us to focus on the things we have instead of obsessing about what we don’t have. It also gives us a chance to appreciate our lives and everything we have in it.
As a writer, I’ve found myself looking back on the many things I’ve accomplished, and I am able to reflect on how much progress I’ve made. As soon as I realize how much further I have to go, I start feeling gratitude again.
- Talk to people
Talking to people about the things we are grateful for helps us connect with other people and ourselves. Having the opportunity to express our gratitude towards our friends