What are the benefits of practicing

Gratitude

Published: 19 March 2020

Life and Soul’s first core value is Gratitude….What is Gratitude and what are the benefits for you to practice daily gratefullness.

Gratitude allows us to recognize good in our lives. Focusing on and appreciating the good in our lives constantly reminds us about great things all around us.

What Are the Benefits of Practicing Gratitude?
Several gratitude studies show that practicing gratitude can greatly benefit our physical, emotional, mental and social well-being.

Physical Benefits: Our physical well-being is positively impacted by an increase in gratitude practices. Studies found that grateful people feel fewer aches and pains and feel overall healthier in comparison to others. It was also found that those who kept gratitude journals were more likely to exercise. Why? gratitude gives us a more positive disposition and motivates us to pursue positive pursuits. Other physical benefits from practicing gratitude: Reduces symptoms of depression | Lowers blood pressure | Improves sleep

Emotional Benefits: Our emotional well-being is directly affected by an increase in gratitude. Research say that gratitude reduces feelings of envy, frustration and other toxic feelings that, in turn, increase our overall happiness and reduce depression. Reducing our negative talk clears our minds to allow us to take in positive feelings. Other emotional benefits from practicing gratitude: Increases long-term happiness | Reduces envy | Increases life-satisfaction | Makes us more optimistic | Lowers depression

Mental Benefits: A person’s mental health is also affected by gratitude. People who express and recognize gratitude are more confident and compassionate. Other benefits for your mental health include: Boosts self-esteem | Increases selflessness | Improves decision-making | Makes us more resilient

Social Benefits: We reap lots of social benefits when we choose to engage in gratitude practices. Social benefits you gain for practicing gratitude: More well-liked by others | Improves and strengthens relationships | Increases social support | Strengthens feelings of work fulfillment

How to Practice Gratitude Everyday
There are lots of ways to practice gratitude! You can keep a gratitude journal and reflect on your own, you can call up a friend and let them know how much you appreciate them, or you can celebrate the people in your life with a small token of appreciation. Below is a list of a few different ways you can practice gratitude.

1. Keep a gratitude journal. If pen and paper isn’t your thing, set aside some time in the day to reflect in your mind on the great things that happened.
2.  Take time to appreciate nature and all of the little things you may usually miss when you’re outside.
3. Think about what lessons you can take away from stressful situations instead of solely focusing on your stress.
4. Create a gratitude collage with pictures of people, places and things you’re grateful to have in your life.
5. Write a positive review for a business that recently gave you a great experience.
6. Challenge yourself to minimize or completely diminish complaining and criticizing for a short period and reflect on how much energy you put towards these feelings.
7. Identify at least one positive thing that you appreciate or can learn when you’re faced with a seemingly bad situation.
8. Write thank you notes whenever possible.
9. Pick up a hobby you’ve been meaning to try. Making yourself happier can help you feel more grateful.
10. Meditate on things you’re grateful to have in your life.
11. Think about something or someone you’re thankful for right when you wake up.
12. Reflect on the people or things you’re thankful for at work while you’re getting ready to go home. Keep a gratitude list at work you can use to reflect.
13. Refrain from gossiping or speaking negatively about other people.
14. Set a reminder for yourself on your phone to pause and think of something you’re grateful for in that moment.
15. Take time to think about all of the people that made your meal possible the next time you cook or sit down to eat.
16. Think of a positive thought whenever a negative thought pops up in your mind.
17. Keep a simple gratitude list and add to it every day.

Gratitude allows us to see that the sources of that good are usually close by. Practicing gratitude allows us to recognize those who bring goodness into our lives and humbles us in order to give credit to those we are grateful for.

Sources proflowers.com