The Power of Gratitude

In life, we come across various challenges. Instead of stressing, it’s important to remember and be thankful for the great things life has given us too. As good things happened to you previously, you must believe it can happen again. This gives you the energy to keep going and doing good for yourself and others.

Practicing gratitude affirms ‘All is Well’, making each day worth living. Derived from the Latin word “gratia”, which means graciousness or gratefulness, gratitude is a feeling of appreciation for all that you have in life. As a business leader and entrepreneur, I have always been grateful for my journey, my family, and my relationships. I believe feeling gratitude invites more positivity into our lives. In this article, I walk you through the benefits of being grateful.

Cycle of positivity

Feeling gratitude creates positive energy around us which attracts positive things and people towards you. This positivity gives you the strength to navigate challenges. Also, when you express gratitude to others, you give away positive vibes and experience their good side, a win-win.

Build better relationships

Gratitude helps people focus on the better aspects of their lives and build and maintain good relationships with others. This brings hope, satisfaction, and reciprocal behaviors toward others.

Experience joy and well-being

Gratitude is linked to greater happiness. When you’re grateful for what you have, your brain releases oxytocin, a hormone that induces pleasure and improves mood. This brings in positive emotions, improves well-being and helps you deal with adversity better.

The multiplying effect

Gratitude acts as a multiplier, magnifying the feelings of wonder and amazement you experience. Managers who thank their employees find them motivated to work harder, and parents who appreciate their children see them cooperate better.

I habitually express gratitude as soon as I wake up each morning and before going to bed at night. This includes relationships, good health, and good things that occur during the day. Also, when I witness something unpleasant around me, I thank God for keeping me away from the untoward.

Alongside my journey, I’ve realized that suffering/pain is a part of life. Even when dealing with life’s setbacks one can still embrace gratitude as it helps overcome negative emotions and helps us focus on the brighter side of life. I outline a few ways you can practice gratitude in all aspects of your life.

Count your blessings: Practicing the virtue of gratitude helps slow down and reflect on the many things you can be thankful for in life. Choose a time to sit down and count your blessings. Also, chart plans for improving the no-so-good situations and turning them around in the future.

Keep a gratitude journal: Make it a habit to list down the things you’re grateful for, such as the good things/kind words/ compliments/ wishes you’ve received each day. Express and feel gratitude before meals or going to bed.

Send ‘Thank You’ letters/emails: Double your happiness and nurture your relationships with others by writing thank-you letters or emails. You can even pick one member and call them over the weekend to express appreciation for their work or acknowledge their contribution to the organization.

All my life I’ve experienced firsthand the transformational power of gratitude. It boosts your happiness, releases positivity around you and helps you build better relationships. Feel free to share in the comments other simple ways you practice gratitude.