The Attitude of Gratitude

(Photo supplied by writer)

Modern research and scientific studies have proven that in positive psychology, gratitude is the human way of acknowledging the good things of life. Scientists have proven the benefits of gratitude are endless. The psychological benefits of gratitude means a happier version of yourself: positive emotions and thoughts meant increased self-satisfaction and enhanced mood. The physical benefits of gratitude means a fitter and healthier version of yourself: stronger immune system, less body pains and aches, optimum blood pressure and cardiac functioning, and better sleep-wake cycles. The social benefits of gratitude means being a better version of yourself: better communication with more empathy and understanding, stronger and more positive interpersonal relationships, and more involvement as a team member of your social or work circle.

Having an attitude of gratitude is a great way to live our lives. Being thankful can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings. Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, and confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, and a stranger into a friend.

Here are some helpful ways on how to cultivate the attitude of gratitude:

• Start your day with gratitude! Waking up in the morning and saying thank you for the gift of life and for another day. Being grateful and saying “thank you” to the universe before you get out of bed makes your day go a lot better!
• Smile more often. When we smile, our body releases serotonin and other feel-good chemicals, such as endorphins, which then attach to receptors in our brain. That’s a scientific way of saying that we feel happy and relaxed. Smiling is free — smile more!
• Appreciate yourself more. Rather than wait or seek approval from others, self-appreciation is a much healthier choice because it’s something within our control. Self-appreciation is the foundation of life — when you appreciate yourself, it’s easier to appreciate others. We must constantly learn to appreciate, accept, and embrace ourselves — the good and the bad.
• Live in the present. The present moment is the only moment in our lives that we actually have.Think about this and let it sink in: the past is gone, and you can’t turn back the clock; the future is not ours to control and we can’t fast forward the clock. Enjoy NOW. Live NOW. Be happy NOW. Treasure NOW. Seize the moment NOW.
• Be kind to others. Do a random act of kindness each day. When we practice random acts of kindness, it releases positivity: We feel better and the recipients of our acts feel better, which then makes them more likely to be kind to other people. It’s a domino effect in a positive way. Make someone laugh. Hold the door for someone. Pay for someone’s coffee or toll. Feed the birds. The list goes on!
• Spend quality time with your loved ones and tell them how much you love them everyday. Life is short! Our loved ones are what make life worth living. We have to nurture them like we would a garden. Treasure every moment with them. Tell them how much you appreciate and love them. Love them passionately. Tell them how much they mean to you. Always say thank you to them.
• Appreciate others in your community and be grateful for the things they do for you. Say thank you to the people who serve you in the community — the bus drivers, teachers, nurses, doctors, dentists, police officers, etc. Be grateful for all the wonderful things your friends and loved ones do for you.
• Be grateful for the friendships you have. Foster good relationships. Real friends are hard to come by! Encourage mutual beneficial relationships with your friends. In any type of relationships, it always has to be give and take. Be mindful of how you confide to your friends or partner. We all have to vent but do not over burden your friends and partner with your issues and troubles. This is when a professional therapist should come in handy. Don’t be ashamed to seek medical help. Your friends and your partner don’t deserve to be your punching bags.
• Avoid a toxic environment. Stay away from negativity. Stay away from people who bad-mouth you or gossip about others. Stay away from negative media and people with destructive influences.
• Turn negativity into positivity. This is a tough one, particularly, when you feel the weight of the world on your shoulders. Remember this during tough times: you are not alone. We all go through crappy moments. There’s always a solution to everything. There’s always a light at the end of the tunnel. When you think a negative thought, try to see the positive side in the situation. The word “problems” must be changed to the word “challenges”. You must embrace and face each challenge and turn things around into an opportunity for growth and lessons learned.
• Stop complaining! As we focus more on minimizing our complaints and maximizing our gratitude and excitement about life, we will likely feel a difference in our stress levels and our level of overall life satisfaction. Think about this: someone else would rather have your life. Someone else would like to have the job you’re complaining about. Someone else would like to look like you when you complain about how you look. Ask yourself this: which mindset would you rather have — complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorns have roses?
• Keep a gratitude diary and add to it daily. At the end of your day and before you go to sleep, write something you were thankful for the day. You can also start a habit of sharing your gratitude everyday through tweeting, Facebook or Instagram.

An attitude of gratitude brings so many wonderful things in our lives! When we give thanks for even the smallest things in our lives, we will always end up with a lot of great things to be thankful for in our lives. Gratitude is not only the greatest of all virtues but the parent of all others. It changes our lives for the better! Thank you for reading my thoughts.