Why being grateful matters
As I write this, I’m on an airplane flying to Hawaii for the second time this year.
My mother wanted to visit. She's not in the best of health now nor was she earlier in the year but was determined to bathe in the sea.
I woke up this morning with nothing but gratitude for the chance to take her, the ability to take her, and the time to take her. My kids are older and self-sufficient, my husband is very supportive and I am nothing but grateful for it all.
There are many wonderful things that can happen in life if you are open to receiving them with a grateful heart and allowing them to take place.
Gratitude is a practice that is common throughout the world. Being grateful is an important message that has been conveyed throughout history, from primatological psychology to modern yoga practices.
The benefits are plentiful. Here are just a few.
1. Increased gratitude = heightened happiness. It’s true, you will feel and become a happier person with this simple practice.
2. People like hanging around happy people. Your friendship will thrive and more beautiful people will come into your life.
3. Feeling grateful improves health, energy, and stress levels. You’ll sleep better, have less anxiety, and experience improved self-esteem.
4. You become a more forgiving person which helps with anger, fear, and resentment.
5. You’ll make more money because you will become more productive and receive more opportunities through the act of being grateful.
There are many ways to practice being grateful – find the one that works best for you.
You can try journaling your thankful thoughts or expressing them out loud to someone daily. You can make a mental note to say thank you in your mind when something goes well throughout the day.
You can schedule a gratitude meditation practice daily. When you lay your head down to sleep at night, reflect on your day and list the things you feel grateful for. Only focus on the positives.
Have you ever found yourself feeling elated about something and then have a terrible thought occur to you about what's about to ruin the whole thing? This is an opportunity to practice the simple act of gratitude. When negative thoughts come in, flip the conversation in your head and simply say "thank you".
Start telling others why you are grateful to have them in your life and see what transforms in your relationships. Pass on some gratitude at work when someone does a nice thing.
The seeds of gratitude will grow and grow as you say thanks every day for everything that goes right in your life, makes you feel good and allows you to live the life you want.