Practising Gratitude: 7 Surprising Ways It Can Benefit You

What does Gratitude mean?

In psychology, gratitude shows an emotional state as a feeling of appreciation for the good things that we have in our lives. It is an emotion that encourages us to be thankful for what we have, even when things are not going our way.

Gratitude can help us appreciate the positive aspects of our lives and foster a deep sense of connection to the people around us and ourselves. By recognising and savouring the good things that happen, we can become more mindful of the joys in our daily life rather than focusing solely on the negative.

If you practise gratitude, how does it affect you?

Gratitude affects many parts of our lives in positive and meaningful ways. If I ask you to reflect on your journey or even on the present moment, think about something or someone that you feel thankful for, blessed by, or appreciate having in your life. Whatever comes into your mind that you strongly feel connected to, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and think, reflect, and realise what you are grateful for. Acknowledge that person or thing.

It will only take less than 60 seconds.

If I talk about myself, then gratitude is something I try to practise every single day by showing appreciation towards people, life, the blessings. Even the struggles I have faced. There are different reasons why I take the time to do this:

1. It helps me stay in touch with my consciousness and well-being and connects me to the divine.

2. It helps me see my life through a new dimension.

3. Gratitude allowed me to acknowledge: what makes me feel good and brings me contentment?

4. Gratitude has helped me face my fears, handle stressful situations, and even get over negative feelings in some cases. 

5. Whenever I feel like giving up on life due to something going wrong or believing there is nothing good left in my life, practising gratitude always helps me to stay on track.

If you want to improve your life, start practising gratitude every day. Start appreciating what you have and take steps forward by reminding yourself how far you have come.

Here are seven lessons I've learned from practising gratitude daily and in surprising ways, it can benefit you as well.

Practising Gratitude Infographic

1. Improve Self-Worth:

Practising gratitude boosts self-esteem by displaying good feelings, which boosts self-confidence and aids in the achievement of goals. It helps to reduce social comparison and jealousy.

2. Appreciate the Little Things: 

Practising gratitude helps us to appreciate the little things in life. It encourages us to savour the moments of joy, happiness, and contentment that often go unnoticed. When we take a moment to acknowledge and be thankful for the little things, we are more likely to be happy in the present.

3. Create a Positive Mindset: 

Practising gratitude helps us to create a positive mindset by shifting our focus away from our worries and fears. When we focus on things we are thankful for, it helps to boost our mood and relieves stress.

4. Contentment: 

Gratitude is a powerful tool that can help us to live happier, more fulfilling lives. Practising gratitude is one of the secret formulas of happiness. In the long run, gratitude improves your overall life satisfaction and outlook on your future. Learning to be grateful and practising it every day will help improve your overall well-being.

5. Cultivate Compassion: 

Gratitude can also help us to cultivate compassion for others. When we are thankful for what we have, we are more likely to assess our privilege and be more understanding of those who are less fortunate.

6. Healthy Relationship:

Your gratitude relationship can reflect your current relationship with yourself and the world around you. If you're feeling ungrateful, it could be because you're not taking the time to notice and appreciate the good in your life.

7. Setbacks do not Define You:

Besides that, it won't let your setbacks define you. Life is full of ups and downs — sometimes, even it feels like the circumstances will last forever! But they don't — they pass by quickly once they happen. Showing patience and gratitude in adversity will give you clarity and enable you to see the big picture, which tends to predict positive experiences.

Conclusion:

Practising gratitude can help us feel more content and grateful for what we have in life rather than focusing on what we don't have. It can also enable us to build stronger relationships with ourselves and those around us as we take the time to appreciate the good things in our lives. Practising gratitude can also improve mental and physical health, such as an improved mood, better sleep, and a healthy immune system.

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