The benefits of being grateful and how to start practicing gratitude
To continue self-care week we are focusing on being more grateful. I have found that being more grateful can make life easier and more enjoyable. It also doesn’t have to be that hard. There are many things to be grateful for and adding time for gratitude can help your life a lot.
It’s also a great habit to get into if you are a parent because you will be modeling the act of being grateful and teaching your children gratitude. Which will improve their lives too.
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The Benefits of Gratitude
Being thankful for the things you have instead of focusing on the things you don’t is a good way of bringing positive energy into your life. It will, more importantly, make you realize you are lucky to have the things you do. Practicing the habit of being grateful will help you become a more positive person.
When life is going through a rough patch and I’m feeling down. If I start focusing on being more grateful it really helps to make me feel better.
There are so many benefits to being more grateful. Here are just a few of the ones to consider.
1.Improves your Physical health:
Experts believe that gratitude actually improves one’s physical health. When you are grateful for your health you are more apt to exercise, eat well and avoid things like smoking and alcohol.
You can have less headaches, fewer stomach aches and clear up your skin just by being more grateful.
2.Improves your Self-Esteem:
When you are happy, optimistic and healthy your self-esteem will naturally increase improving your relationships, your confidence, and your productivity.
3. It will help reduce your stress levels:
When you shift the focus from your problems to what’s working for you and making you happy, your stress will decrease.
4. It will help you sleep better:
Being grateful generates more positive thoughts and you’re more likely to sleep better having positive thoughts before you go to sleep.
It is also suggested that positive thoughts calm the nervous system so it is a good idea to make a list of things you’re grateful for before bedtime.
How to be practice gratitude
If you would like to experience some of these great benefits, why not try some of these simple ways to make gratitude a part of everyday.
1. Start a Gratitude Journal:
Write down the things you are thankful for and your accomplishments. Find the positives in the challenges or struggles and write it down. When you are feeling down and need motivation, your journal will be a great source to refer back to that will kick you back up.
Put your focus on the positives and write down your highlights of every single day. Keep your journal on your nightstand and write in it daily. I do my journaling on my phone before bed because that’s what works for me. You have to find what works for you.
2. Create a blessings jar
Find a jar and cut up some scraps of paper. Write down something you are grateful for each day and add it to the jar. If you are struggling with your mindset or doubt, pull out the pieces one by one to remind yourself of your many blessings.
Things to be grateful for: Your family, friends, your home, your pets, your favorite foods, etc.
3. Spend time with people you love
If you can visit someone you love and care about as often as possible and let them know you care about them. If you can’t visit then send a letter or make a phone call to a family member or friend as often as you can and let them know what they mean to you.
