(even if we don’t feel it all the time)
We define Gratitude as ‘the quality of being thankful’ and ‘a readiness to show appreciation for and return kindness’
And while it seems the most natural thing to feel and do in the world, our busy-busy lives tend to distract us from choosing what makes us feel good.
Creating a practise to cultivate gratitude, to forge a pathway that brings you home to appreciation easily, even when times are challenging, will change your life.
The health benefits of regular gratitude are plentiful,
- “increased happiness and positive mood
- more satisfaction with life
- less materialistic
- less likely to experience burnout
- better physical health
- better sleep
- less fatigue
- lower levels of cellular inflammation
- greater resiliency
- encourages the development of patience, humility, and wisdom”*
Gratitude helps to shift our attention when things are difficult, creates opportunities for meaningful connection with others when we share our reflections, and it counteracts our negativity bias by positively reframing experiences.
Don’t worry, I am not suggesting a complex and time consuming routine of meditation and therapeutic intervention (although that’s always a bonus!) It really is as simple as doing something regular that provides an opportunity to be very present and truly thankful, which becomes a rhythm of goodness in your life.
Some easy places to start tuning into gratitude are for the basics, such as food/shelter/safety. Or thinking of someone in your life who is easy to love (for example a pet, or a child). Focussing on nature, on breath and on the experience of being alive.
You could begin a daily ritual of writing down your top 3 gratitudes in a notebook, or share them at the dinner table, or before bed at night, Choose a moment to light a candle and take a few minutes to reflect on what you appreciate.
Coming into the present moment can seem difficult with other feelings or experiences looming, such as frustration, sadness, defeat, even apathy… This is why we call it a ‘practise’, because the more we do it, the more the gratitude compounds and builds so that in our difficult moments, we have access to the pathways that help us regulate and reset.
If you feel you would like some help to find a practise that suits you, book in with me on via www.ekinesi.com.
*reference Kori D Miller on the Positive Psychology website positivepsychology.com 01-09-2021