Practicing Gratitude
Practicing Gratitude: Transform your life with these easy tips
November is National Gratitude Month, a time to reflect on all you have to be grateful for and to give thanks. However, practicing gratitude means more than just saying “thank you.” Gratitude is a powerful thing, and when it is practiced with intention and belief there can be many positive outcomes. In this blog, we are going to explore some of the benefits of practicing gratitude and how to incorporate that practice into your daily life.
Caring for yourself is an important way to maintain your physical and mental health, and practicing gratitude is a form of self-care. In reflecting on what you have to be grateful for, you are able to reap many benefits. Some of these benefits include:
Shifting from a negative to a positive outlook. Having a positive outlook allows you to find the good in hard, stressful or unexpected life events. In practicing gratitude, you can reframe your mindset and enable yourself to see life with a positive, hopeful lens.
Boosts in mood. Positive, grateful thinking has been shown to lead to a release of serotonin and dopamine, chemicals in the brain that are associated with happiness and pleasure. Intentionally practicing gratitude can change your mood on a chemical level.
Decreases in stress levels. In a similar vein, by reducing negative thoughts and shifting to a positive outlook, the body’s stress levels can decrease. Expressing gratitude can regulate the stress hormone and allow the body to manage it better.
Now that we’re aware of a few of the benefits that can be achieved through practicing gratitude, we must consider the most effective ways to go about the practice. There are a few ways to do so, and it is important to choose some methods that will work for you, your schedule and your preferences. Some ways to practice gratitude include:
Keep a gratitude journal. A gratitude journal is a simple way to practice gratitude and reconnect with yourself. To keep a gratitude journal, you write down on a regular basis specific things you have to be grateful for. When you’re feeling down, it can be helpful to check your journal and recalibrate.
Remind yourself to stay present. It can be difficult to live in the moment when you have many stressors. You can practice gratitude and stay grounded by reminding yourself to stay present during moments of stress.
Give back to your community in a meaningful way. Whether this is by donating, volunteering, or just spreading kindness, giving back is a great way to extend your gratitude outside of yourself.
As we head into National Gratitude Month, we hope these insights are helpful for anyone looking to practice gratitude and recognize all that they have to be thankful for.
