Gratitude - What are you thankful for?

“The little things? The little moments? They aren’t little.” Saying thank you, holding the door for someone, these little moments can change the tone of your whole day.

-Jon Kabat-Zinn

The definition of Gratitude given in dictionaries is not difficult. To simply put, Gratitude is the act of recognising and acknowledging the good things that happen, resulting in a state of appreciation.

Often when we consider what we are grateful for? We may feel grateful for our upbringing, family, job, good health, and the opportunity to gain an education. Then there are some simple everyday pleasures such as Sunshine, Flowers, Laughter with Friends/ Co-workers, A stranger’s kindness, less traffic and more which seldom go unnoticed. ?

Why is it important ?

Gratitude appears to have a domino effect. If a person experiences gratitude, they are more likely to recognise the help and then later reciprocate that help.

How do I Practice Gratitude?

There are two key components of practicing gratitude:

1. We affirm the good things we’ve received

We acknowledge the role other people play in providing our lives with goodness

I find it true that once we start practicing gratitude our brain starts to rewire towards identifying more joy and less stress. I have started applying the below simple ways to become more grateful:

1. Writing a Gratitude Journal: Recently I realised the power of penning down the benefits of expressing the gratefulness. The expressions, thoughts become visible to you when you read them.?
2. Remember the bad- It is helpful to remember the hard times that you once experienced. Once the hardships are resolved then the contrast mind helps realise how far you have come. This contrast is fertile ground for gratefulness.?
3. Share your Gratitude with Others- expressing gratitude strengthens?the relationship.
4. Ask these questions to yourself -?Look at the relationship you have with your family, spouse, friends, relatives, co-workers, children. Ask yourself these questions: “What have I received from ?”, “What have I given to ?”, and “What troubles and difficulty have I caused?”
5. All senses - Use all your sensory organs (ability to touch, see, smell, taste, and hear) to display the sense of gratitude.?

The takeaway:

Cultivating gratitude can open the door to a different perspective-one that values the goodness in our lives. With practice, we can learn to see the bigger picture and navigate adversity with greater resilience.

HollowNeedle by Swagata