At first glance, gratitude might not seem like an emotion that fits naturally or comfortably into your daily life. It might even seem like it's a word being thrown around, misleading and no sense making nonsense for some. Like, yes I'm grateful for my family and friends, my home and hobbies, but that actual feeling of gratitude that these social media bohemian influencers are portraying online in their fantasy looking world doesn't feel attainable or desirable. So keep your attitude of gratitude and your two cents too.
But there are plenty of actual studies and researches done by numerous people around the world to back up this claim that cultivating gratitude is actually a thing; a thing that can literally make you happier, feel better, even make you a better version of yourself. (Regardless of it sounding like a bunch of bull crap.).
So now that we've established that it is good for your wellbeing, how does it work? How to literally incorporate gratitude into your daily life?
Let’s look at a few suggestion that may or may not work for you. Start by putting them into action, making them a part of your routine and just see what happens.
Write a thank-you note. Make yourself happier by writing a thank-you letter expressing your enjoyment and appreciation to another person. Expressing gratitude towards someone else will add to your overall wellbeing and heck why not write one to yourself once in a while.
Thank someone mentally. No time to write? Writing notes not your thing? Think of someone who has done something nice for you, and mentally thank the individual.
Keep a gratitude journal. Make it a habit to write down things that bring joy to you, things that make you feel awesome. And if writing isn't your thing, list all the things you love in your mind right before you go to sleep or while you have your first sip of coffee (or tea) in the morning. Sometimes it helps to pick a number - such as three to five things to help count your blessings.
Pray. People who are religious can use prayer to cultivate gratitude.
Meditate. Mindfulness meditation involves focusing on the present moment without judgment. The easiest way to begin meditating is by focusing on your breath. Be still and just breathe.
Make gratitude a talking point. For many reasons conversations often consists of complaints and negative comments. It's like the saying goes 'misery loves company'. Try to replace “I’m so tired”, "I hate my job" and “I’m so busy” phrases with a more positive practice - one that promotes feelings of gratitude. Talk about great things that are happening in your life (If there's never nothing great happening, that might be a sign to make some changes).
Visualize your gratitude. Creating visual reminders of the things you are most thankful for is a great way to cultivate gratitude throughout the day. Keep photos of things you love on your desk or phone to experience a bit of gratitude when you look up from your busy day. Small visual reminders can keep a steady stream of gratitude flowing throughout your day.
Although it might be challenging to channel feelings of gratitude during a stressful time, it is possible with a shift in intention and perspective.
We all have the ability and opportunity to cultivate gratitude. Simply take a few moments to focus on all that you have – rather than complaining about all the things you think are wrong. I know it might sound like nonsense but developing an “attitude of gratitude” is one of the simplest ways to improve your satisfaction with life.
Now, list three things you are grateful for RIGHT NOW, feel free to comment or send them to me on Instagram.
My List:
Clean running water
The ability to read and write
My healthy body
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