Having Gratitude




I have a friend who wrote down daily what she was grateful for over a period of thirty days.  She had been going through a tough time and wanted to focus on the good in her life rather than the worry, stress and unhappiness she had been experiencing.  Once started, she decided to make it public by posting on social media each day her thoughts of gratitude.  

Now think about this for a moment.  Can you name thirty things you feel grateful for and the reason for your feelings?  Yes I can imagine you can come up with some things easily at first but can you really put some thought into the idea and state the reasons?  Of course many of you will say you are grateful for your family, friends, pets, or career.  All of these features in life are good.  But really when it come right down to it are you truly appreciative of the feeling and is there depth to your way of thinking.  

So often we pass through this world not realizing what we actually have and how fortunate we are.  We have expectations and don’t see how the smallest thing can bring us joy.  Do you feel passionate about your life?  Do you see how much you have in your life and do you share with others how grateful you are?  

What if you started writing down once a day something that you are grateful for and why.  Do you think it could change the way you think and how it may possibly affect your day?  Don’t misunderstand; there will still be negative things that happen in your life.  But you may find expressing your thankfulness on a daily basis can help with your perspective.  It may assist you to see life’s journey overall when setbacks occur. Focusing on the positive can help change your perception and outlook on life.

The science of gratitude shows us that keeping a journal of items we are thankful for can help with our overall satisfaction in life.  Research has shown the benefits of better sleep, stronger immune systems, and positive emotions are connected to having gratefulness in our life.  The focus of being grateful can provide benefits in all areas of life – social, health, career, personality and emotional – all leading to more happiness overall.

So how do you get started on the journey to having more gratefulness in your life?  You can start small with taking notice of the world and the beauty that surrounds you.  Find ways to include acts of kindness in your daily life.  It could be just a smile, kind words, helping others or finding the good rather than the negative.  Over time you will find that you have developed a habit.  Having gratitude is a skill that you can develop and bring new and positive benefits into your life.   Take time to look at what you have in life to appreciate; then celebrate the wonder and moments of bliss.

“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.” 

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