The Beauty of Gratitude

Every morning we have 24 brand new hours to live. What a precious gift!”

~ Thich Nhat Hanh

How do you feel today? Maybe you are over the moon or perhaps a bit confused and worried.

On days you feel like nothing is going right, there seems to be no reason to stay positive and appreciate life. However, there are still reasons to be grateful, starting from all the benefits you can get from it.

It increases happiness

Regular gratitude practice helps you feel happier and experience positive emotions. When you focus on things that make you feel thankful, you will find that positivity follows.‌

It strengthens your mindset

Gratitude does wonder for your mental health. It improves emotional strength and resilience when you experience stress, loss, or trauma. Furthermore, it lowers cortisol levels in your body, helping avoid many physical and mental side effects of stress.

It creates more connections

People who cultivate gratitude are inspired to give back and support their peers and community. Being thankful not only benefits you but also those around you.

How to practice gratitude?

The best way to get all the benefits of gratitude is to commit to a short daily practice. Choose a time of the day to sit down with pen and paper and write down a few affirmations. Start with “I am grateful for…” and then add anything that makes you feel good at that moment. Try not to overthink: the words will naturally come. Imagine this practice like a positive journal for your feelings.

There will be days when you won’t be in the mood to think about anything; that’s okay. Try to write something down anyway. After a while, you will be able to find that little thing to be thankful for, even on the most gloomy days. Remember to always add the date to your journal entry, so that you can check and read them again at a later time. You will be impressed by the progress you’ll have made!

Now tell me, when was the last time you felt blessed and grateful and reflected on that?
Namaste xx