Today’s blog is a little detour from our normal content but so very important for us to remember all year but especially appropriate for the season that we are currently in. Hope it resonates with you.
In today's world, with messages coming at us every day from social media and other sources that we need this or that to be fulfilled, it is easy to get caught up in that mindset. However, we forget that we have multiple things/people/situations, let's call them blessings, that we should slow down and be grateful for. Gratitude is crucial to a healthy mind.
Gratitude is defined as the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. It is such a simple concept but its’ effects on our well-being are profound. Research has shown that practicing gratitude leads to a more fulfilling life.
So today it is important to understand why it is important to be grateful for what we have vs. always having to have more. Here are a few reasons:
1. Gratitude helps us shift our focus from worrying about what we don’t have to focusing on what we do have.
It is easy to get caught up in comparing ourselves to that other person we see on social media or elsewhere. However, when we do that, we are focusing on what we don’t have. If we are truly honest with ourselves, we all feel like we are lacking something. However, when we practice gratitude, we train ourselves to see the good in our lives - the things that we do have. I guarantee that no matter what or who you have to be grateful for, there is someone out there that would love to have that. This doesn’t have to be monetary. In fact, there are much more important things to be thankful for like relationships, family, friends. Shifting our perspective, helps us realize that we have so many blessings in our lives.
2. Relationships Improve when we focus on Gratitude.
Expressing gratitude towards an individual you have a relationship with (it could be a partner, spouse, friend, or family) helps that person feel appreciated and valued. How many times have you just said, “I'm grateful for you because”. When we do that, it strengthens our relationship with that individual. When we show gratitude towards someone, we are able to acknowledge the impact that person has had on our lives, and that helps strengthen the bond between us and that individual.
3. We are more content when we show Gratitude.
When we are constantly pursuing more, we can feel dissatisfied and unhappy. But, when we practice gratitude, there is a sese of contentment and satisfaction for what we have in our lives. Don’t get me wrong here. I am not at all saying that we just stay where we are and not strive for growth and improvement. I am just as competitive as the next person and want to win and get better. However, if we are showing gratitude, it allows us to appreciate where we are currently. It doesn't have to be an either or.
4. Showing Gratitude allows us to bounce back easier.
We are all going to have good times and times that are extremely challenging in our life. You might call them ups and downs or peaks and valleys. In the easy times, it is easy to recognize what you are grateful for. In those challenging times, it is easy to get caught up in the woe is me mentality, take the stance of a victim, and get caught up in negativity and feeling sorry for ourselves. By actively practicing gratitude and focusing on the positive aspects of our lives even during these difficult times, we can build resilience and bounce back from challenges much easier.
5. A positive attitude can be the result of showing Gratitude.
When we are looking for things to be grateful for, it is easy to see the good in every situation and approach life with a more positive attitude.
Once again, I am not advocating that we shouldn’t be constantly looking to grow and improve. A former boss of mine used to always us the quote “If you are not green and growing, you are ripe and rotting”. We should always be striving to grow and improve. However, focusing on being grateful for what we have is essential for our overall well-being and our health. If we are focusing on what we are grateful for and really appreciating the present moment, it has many positive effects. So, every day put into practice taking a moment to reflect on what you are grateful for and express that in some practical way. There is always something to be grateful for.
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