We all have something to be thankful for, and still not many of us are truly grateful. Throughout our lives, we only complain about things we do not get, but what about the things we already have, and yet we still feel so deprived.
Now you may be prompted to think about many small or big things in your life, people, places, and be inclined to think and appreciate them. Being grateful and appreciating things in life is what we call gratitude.
A definition of gratitude provided by psychiatry researchers Randy A Sansone &Lori A Sansone is:โthe appreciation of what is valuable and meaningful to oneself and represents a general state of thankfulness and/or appreciationโ.
Gratitude offers benefits for bodies, minds, and relationships according to world-renowned scientist Robert Emmons.According to Robert Emmons, there are two main components of gratitude.
The first component is, “It is an expression of goodness in oneโs life”. Our joy is affirmed by the good things that exist in the world, as well as the gifts and benefits we’ve received. The good of life is that it is rich in textures and comes with many elements that make it worth living.
Another component of gratitude is knowing that โgoodness comes from outside of ourselves.โ At this point, we recognize our blessings, and whose sacrifices made it possible for us to be content.
We should express our gratitude to those who help us, or acknowledge the blessings in our lives silently. You don’t have to conserve your gratitude for the momentous things in life: Sure, you can express gratitude for bigger things in life, but you can also express gratitude for simple pleasures like a delicious dessert. Even those with mental health problems, can benefit from gratitude for its positive effects on happiness and physical health.
You can practice and enhance your gratitude through many gratitude exercises and activities. But some simple ways to practice gratitude are as follows:
- Making a gratitude journal: Practice reminding yourself daily of the good things you enjoy, the grace that surrounds you, and the benefits that you receive. It is possible to embed a theme of gratefulness into your life through the integration of gratitude associated with ordinary events or your personal attributes.
- Start noticing the thank yous you say and how relieving it feels to you.
- The contrast between how difficult life used to be and how far you have come can be prolific for gratitude when you remember both, be grateful to the journey.
- It is necessary to express our gratitude to others. Thank your partner, friend, or family member when they do something you appreciate.
- Gratitude indeed makes you happy, but happiness can also make you grateful. Exercise or participating in a hobby you enjoy are other ways to keep your mood up.
- Ask yourself three questions, reflect on your relationships with parents, friends, siblings, work associates, children, and partners using these three questions: โWhat have I received from __?โ, โWhat have I given to __?โ, and โWhat problems and difficulty have I caused?โ
- Think about how you tackled all the challenges that you faced in your life and be grateful for your life.
- Always smile say thank you for every little and simple thing, write short notes of how grateful you are for everything in life.
Gratitude can be beneficial in the following ways:
- Expression of gratitude enhances well-being, gratifying people are more agreeable, more open, and less neurotic
- When you express gratitude for someone’s help, it strengthens relationships, helps you form and maintain relationships, and enhances relationship satisfaction and connection.
- Those who concentrate on gratitude are very buoyant people and they are very positive about their physical health and well-being.
- The more things and people we find to be grateful for, the greater our sense of happiness and satisfaction will be.
- Boosts self-confidence, self-control, and self-love.
- Gratitude aids our minds and bodies to be healthier.
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