What is gratitude and how do we live a life full of it? Read on to find out…
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You will hear me say over and over that sharing your gratitude and habitually saying what you are grateful for, or what you are thankful for is essential for maintaining your health and a positive outlook on life. And, that’s what we are all striving for, right?! Usually, however, many people wait until this time of the year to show their gratitude and express what they are grateful for. I suggest let’s start now, but then carry it through to our daily life, even after the holidays are over.
What is Gratitude?
But, what exactly is gratitude? Might seem like a silly question, but when looked up in the dictionary, all it says is that it is a state of being grateful. Well, what does THAT mean?
According to the Harvard Medical School, gratitude is
“a thankful appreciation for what an individual receives, whether tangible or intangible. With gratitude, people acknowledge the goodness in their lives … As a result, gratitude also helps people connect to something larger than themselves as individuals – whether to other people, nature, or a higher power”
The more we see the good, the better we all will do. It also clarifies our priorities and makes us think about how we are living. Do we like what we are focusing on, on a daily basis? Are we practicing habits that aligns with how we feel about ourselves and those around us?
Here are 5 reasons why we should show gratitude on a daily basis.
Showing/expressing gratitude allows us to celebrate the present and magnifies positive emotions.
Gratitude makes us appreciate the value of things, and when we see the value something, we are less likely to take it for granted.
Gratitude allows us to block the negative emotions that have been proven to harm our health.
It lowers the body’s stress level. Studies have shown that those that have a grateful disposition and a lower stress threshold tend to recover from trauma and illness more quickly.
Those that are grateful tend to have a higher self-worth. Showing gratitude recognizes people around you that have made contributions to your life. Once you see that people see value in you, you tend to view yourself with a higher self-worth.
So, now that we know WHAT gratitude is, HOW do we show it? There are several different ways you can practice showing gratitude. Not each way will fit every person. The important aspect of this is that you find what fits your personality, and your lifestyle. Try one method, and if it doesn’t work, try another one. If one works, and you want to build on it, add another method to the one that already works.
Here are just a few ways that you can start to practice gratitude:
- Start a journal. Everyday write down just one thing that you are grateful for. It could be as simple as the sunshine, or no traffic on the road. If you want to get started in a bullet journal, I highly recommend this one: bullet journal.
- Be an active listener. The problem with most of us is that we don’t listen to understand, we listen to reply. Instead of thinking about how you are going to respond, really listen to the person speaking.
- Give out compliments. The best way to make yourself feel better is by making someone else feel better.
- Write hand-written notes of thanks. Not just a simple, “thank you for the gift.” But, really think about what value the gift will contribute to your life.
- Always say “Thank you.” No matter how big or small the favor or task was, say thank you to the person helping you out. A heartfelt thank you goes a long way.
You are all set to start living and practicing gratitude. Which step do you think would be the easiest to implement into your daily life right away? Comment below and tell me!
Megs