When I opened my eyes today, a beautiful and blissful morning was waiting for me. It was mesmeric to watch my two angels sleeping peacefully. Later, when I shared a cup of tea with my husband, I realize how often I really appreciate these moments? How often I fully live in them, without worrying about my long ‘To-Do’ list of the day, or my next client meeting. Tell me honestly! how often do you let go of the thoughts of how your life is supposed to look like, and how often you sincerely appreciate it for everything it serves to you?
Successful people have one habit in common- they are grateful for every small thing and they always keep a note of it. These small things start to make a difference in their life and it eventually leads to the shift of mindset and life becomes more rewarding.
In the hustle of day-to-day life, finding sincere gratitude is much easier said than done, especially when hard times hit. The truth is, sometimes, we create tragedy in our lives out of fairly minor incidents. For example, if something doesn’t go exactly as planned, rather than learn from the experience, we freak out about it and let stress override us. Often, we are not appreciative of the small bits of progress we have made in our life because we want everything at once.
The benefits of practicing gratitude are nearly endless. People who regularly practice gratitude by just reflecting upon it are thankful for-
- Experiencing more positive emotions,
- Feeling more alive,
- Having better Sleep
- Expressing compassion and even
- Having stronger immune systems.
It is scientific fact that when we express gratitude and receive the same, our brain releases dopamine and serotonin, the two crucial neurotransmitters responsible for our emotions, and they make us feel ‘good’. They enhance our mood immediately, making us feel happy from the inside.
How does Gratitude help?
1. Gratitude turns whatever you have into a feeling of “THAT’S ENOUGH”!
2. It is incredibly powerful because it can instantly shift your mindset from scarcity to fulfillment- and when you are in a state of abundance, opportunities seem to pop up from all over the place. ⠀⠀⠀
3. What you focus it grows exponentially, so when you are grateful for anything, big or small, you magically have more of that in your life. Gratitude is a powerful process for shifting your energy for bringing more of what you want in your life.
4. Regularly journaling about the good things in your life strengthens you to deal with the rough patches when they pop up because your brain is rewired to always see the good in every situation.
5. Being thankful in advance for an awaited blessing is the basis of the law of attraction.
Some simple ways to practice gratitude and cultivate this beautiful habit –
1. Acknowledge Your Worthiness
Tell yourself daily that you are enough and you are worthy of joy because you deserve it!
2. Stop the Comparison Game
We can be happy for other people’s success without belittling our own. Don’t compare your point A to somebody else’s point D. Instead, focus on your own success where you are, rather than striving to be somebody else. What is the one thing you have accomplished, big or small, be proud of it!
3. Start A Gratitude Journal
writing down what you are grateful for can help to remind you of all the blessings in your life that you may have taken for granted. It always helps to write it at the same time every day so that it becomes a routine.
4. Meditate
Taking time to be in the moment instead of worrying about the future or past can help you become more mindful and be grateful for the little things.
You can use a guided meditation app, practice yoga, or just take 5 minutes out of every day to sit in a quiet place and just breathe mindfully.
5. Thank You Notes
When was the last time you wrote somebody a thank you note? Telling people that we appreciate them not only makes the person receiving the note feel good, but it also helps us to remember the joy that person brought us.
6. Put a Positive Spin on Your Negative Thoughts
This one can help if you find yourself complaining a lot. When you find yourself thinking negatively often, think of a positive about the same situation. Instead of “Ugh, I hate my job,” try to reframe it into, “I’m grateful that I have a job so I can pay my bills.”
7. Feel Your Joy Fully
When you experience a happy moment, relish in it for all it’s worth, big or small. Let yourself smile, relax and take it all in. Recognize your joy for what it is and allow yourself to lean into it instead of immediately thinking of what could go wrong.
So now onwards, ask every day – what are you grateful for….think about it!!! Let me tell you first, what I am grateful for today-
- For being alive this day,
- For having a roof over my head and food on the table,
- For my beautiful family,
- For having a purpose,
- For being healthy,
- For meaningful relationship,
- For the lessons, I learn,
- For the places, I travel to,
- For the books a read,
- For the knowledge, I seek,
- For being ME…
Remember, if you’re always grateful for the little things, it’s hard to avoid happiness. You experience joy as a natural state. I read a quote somewhere, it says…..
“Life is the biggest gift, being grateful makes it worth living”!
