The Benefits of Gratitude

Nowadays, it seems that everyone is cultivating a gratitude practice, but what do they mean by that, and does it offer any genuine benefits? To help you gain a clearer picture, here’s the ultimate guide to gratitude.

Gratitude Meditation

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What is Gratitude?

In the simplest terms, gratitude is a practice during which you are actively thankful and appreciative of whatever may be in your life.

Gratitude has been proven to have several advantages for your emotional and mental wellbeing, as well as your physical health!

What are the Benefits of a Gratitude Practice?

According to a number of studies, cultivating and building a gratitude practice into your everyday life can have a huge number of benefits! Let’s explore some of these in greater detail.

Top 10 Benefits of Gratitude

Abundance surrounds you in many ways. Regardless of your station in life, there are many things that gratify you. What are you thankful for? Take a moment to ponder them.

Consider the ways that having gratitude makes your life better:

1. You’ll be more enthusiastic.

Research shows that when subjects recorded what they were thankful for in a journal on a regular basis, they reported having a larger sense of enthusiasm for their life than those who didn’t write about their gratitude. Acknowledge your gratitude. You’ll be glad you did!

2. You’ll feel more determined to achieve your goals.

When you take notice of the good things you have, you’re more likely to put your nose to the grindstone and keep working for whatever else you desire.

3. Your level of optimism will soar.

According to several studies, those who documented what they were thankful for were much more positive about how their life was going and how it would proceed. Being optimistic will fuel your passion to construct the life you deserve.

4. Energy levels increase.

If you have gratitude, you’ll have more energy to create the life you desire. Being aware of what you’re thankful for galvanizes your efforts to discover all that your life can be.

5. You’ll pay more attention.

Being thankful ensures you’ll be more alert and aware of how your life is going, what you’re doing, and how you can continue to build the life you seek.

6. Levels of stress drop.

As you live a life of gratitude, things that used to stress you out will lose their power. Instead, you’ll be entrenched in the wonderful world you’re living in.

7. You’ll feel more content with life.

Those who consciously have gratitude experience reduced levels of depression.

8. You’ll exercise more.

Those who show a sense of thankfulness had higher reports of exercising more than those who weren’t keeping a gratitude journal.

9. Providing aid to others will come easier to you.

When you notice all the positive things surrounding you, you’ll reach out to help others more often. When your soul is flooded with light and positivity, you’ll feel more like being there for others.

10. You’ll discover the life you truly want.

As unusual as it may sound, the research about gratitude indicates that those who have thankfulness in their hearts are more likely to achieve their goals. As your thankfulness grows, your dream life is built.

Open your eyes to the bounties that grace your world. When you do, you’ll live a more fulfilling life. Allow yourself to feel passion about the color of the fall leaves, the peacefulness of the snow falling, or the beauty of the blue sky. Notice the feel of a warm coat against your skin or the love in your child’s hug. Maybe you’re even grateful for that first cup of morning coffee.

Get started today on your own gratitude journal. Write about everything that you’re grateful for. As you begin to give thanks, you’ll find your dreams coming true.

How Can You Build a Gratitude Practice?

Incorporating a gratitude practice into your everyday life does not have to be difficult!

Being thankful to someone and showing them how grateful you are may seem like a small thing, but it can have a massive impact on someone’s life.

Can you imagine a world where everyone was grateful for the things that were done for them? Even a simple act of kindness, like a smile, could brighten someone’s day and make them want to help again in the future.

You can make your life – and the world – better by expressing your gratitude!

10 Simple Ways to Express Gratitude

1. Send a note saying thank you.

Sometimes it is nice to read about how thankful a person is. Taking the time to write something down rather than just sending a text message makes it more personal too.

2. Give them a hug.

You can only do this where appropriate, but if you’re feeling grateful about something, it’s okay to give your family or close friends a hug. Of course, not everyone will be receptive of a hug, so ensure that you know how they are going to react beforehand.

3. Offer a free favor.

Even if it is something small, do something nice for someone without expecting anything in return. Think of what the person wants or needs and do your best to help, even if it is just making a cup of coffee or doing a small chore. Actions speak louder than words, and this simple act will show how grateful you are.

4. Give a little gift.

A bouquet of flowers or a box of chocolates won’t cost much, but the act of giving them shows that you’ve thought about the person and that you are grateful for what they do for you.

5. Be happy for their achievements.

Show someone how pleased you are with their achievement. A nice handwritten card or some flowers would be a nice thought.

6. Write a list.

This will only take 5-10 minutes but will show just how much you care. Sit down with a pen and paper and make a list of 10 or more things that you love about someone. Mention the things that they do for you that you are grateful for. Send that list to them.

7. Give them public acknowledgement.

Not everyone will love being made a fuss of in public, but for some, public praise would be appreciated. This works especially well if you’re the boss and those you wish to offer gratitude to are your employees.

8. Just be there.

Always be available for those you care about, even when things are not going well for you. When you are supportive of others, you are showing how much you care and that you’re grateful for the times they were there to support you.

9. Surprise them with kindness.

This works especially well with your partner. Surprise them with a lovely dinner or clean the house when they go out shopping. These simple tasks will mean a lot to someone, especially if they are busy or stressed with very little spare time.

10. Look for the good in every situation.

You may not always feel grateful for the things that are going on in your life. Especially if you feel as though things are going wrong. However, now is the time to be most grateful.

Look for those little things that are going right for you. Focus on these positives and be grateful for them. They can help take your mind off any negatives.

Notice the little things that others do for you, even in unpleasant situations. Let them know that they made a positive difference.

In sum, you don’t have to make grand gestures to express gratitude. Even the smallest act can show someone how thankful you are.

Resources

Join the 5-Day Gratefulness Challenge!

Gratitude Meditation

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