It’s easy to practise gratitude when things are going well in life. It’s do-able when we’re starting to face challenges. When we’ve been facing challenges for extended periods, it does get a bit harder to find anything good in our life – and it becomes even more important here!
Here are my top 3 suggestions:
1. Stand in front of a mirror and say 5 good things about yourself. It can be anything – your achievements, your features, your character, your talents. As long as your SAY THEM OUT LOUD.
2. Have a gratitude journal. Sitting down and thinking about what to write makes you consciously focus on good memories.
3. Allow yourself to be happy. That’s right – GIVE yourself PERMISSION to be happy. Find joy in the small successes as well as the big ones. Accepting happiness makes us stronger and more grateful for what we have.
It’s interesting to note the effect of gratitude on our brain. When we express gratitude and receive the same, our brain releases dopamine and serotonin, the two crucial neurotransmitters responsible for our emotions, and they make us feel ‘good’. They enhance our mood immediately, making us feel happy from the inside.
By consciously practicing gratitude everyday, we can help these neural pathways to strengthen themselves and ultimately create a permanent grateful and positive nature within ourselves.
1. Gratitude releases toxic emotions
2. Gratitude reduces pain
3. Gratitude improves sleep quality
4. Gratitude aids in stress regulation
5. Gratitude reduces anxiety and depression
Gratitude changes the neural structures in the brain, and make us feel happier and more content. Feeling grateful and appreciating others when they do something good for us triggers the ‘good’ hormones and regulates effective functioning of the immune system.
To read more about the effects of gratitude, click here.
What are you grateful for today?
