The Power Of Gratitude

Happiness is important to our health, longevity, success and relationships. 

We live in a culture that attributes work achievements and material success as the benchmark of happiness but those are not necessarily what will make or keep us happy in the long-term. 

The pandemic taught us that family, friends, health and financial stability are important above all else. 

“Happiness is not something readymade. It comes from our own actions.”

                                                          ~Dalai Lama 

Gratitude is an often an overlooked concept but it plays a huge role in boosting your mood and changing the way you think about life and your response to challenging situations. 

I was always a glass half empty kinda gal for the longest time because life threw me many a curve ball and so I tended to get a bit cynical and pessimistic. However since actively practicing gratitude I can see the benefits in my daily life. I am able to look at the positive and negative outcomes of a situation but choose to focus on the positive and deal with challenging situations in a way that is not stressful. This wasn’t an overnight change but very gradual. It’s not to say that it is easy to always be upbeat but there is truly SO much to be grateful for when you take inventory of what you DO have instead of what you DON’T. 

Importance of Gratitude

There are so many but I’m listing the top 5 that I think are really important. 

1. Practicing gratitude is free and easy to start! You’ll realize how lucky you are once you start listing all the good things that happen in your day, week etc and what you’ve learnt or accomplished. There’s so much we take for granted but when you actually list out what is working for you, you get the ball rolling. Once it gathers momentum, you’ll realize that things are not necessarily as bleak as they seem. 
2. Happy people are more creative. Even if you aren’t in the creative line of work you will find that the more relaxed and happy you are, the easier it is for you to come up with new ideas.
3. Enjoy more social connections, friendships and stronger relationships. When you are happy and content, you can give your best self to the people closest to you.
4. Enjoy better physical health and improved sleep. 
5. Happy people are more successful. They are productive at home and at work and can handle stress well. 

Five things you can do everyday to enhance your happiness

1. Forgive and don’t hold grudges. This one is hard I know especially if you’ve been burned quite a bit. It’s important to note that holding in anger and grudges harms your immune system and makes you prone to falling sick more often. If you keep practicing the art of letting go and releasing that negative energy, you will be free and feel better. If this isn’t a good enough reason then I have another one for you – releasing emotional toxins gives you clearer skin!
2. Exercise! It doesn’t have to be anything fancy but getting your body moving releases serotonin that keeps you happy.
3. Spend time with people who make you better and grow. This is something I am consciously trying to do as I want to surround myself with people who lift me up and also challenge me to grow and examine different ideas and viewpoints.
4. Track your progress and celebrate your wins. Calling all perfectionists! Often times we think we’ve achieved something only when we reach a target but the truth is the path to the goal is what needs to be celebrated. The path may not always be straightforward or easy but celebrate how far you’ve come despite the bumps along the way. 
5. Appreciate the little things. Sometimes it’s the simplest of things that bring us joy. A steaming hot cup of coffee, a sunrise walk with a friend, family dinner, staying in with a good book, being outdoors in nature etc. are the building blocks to our happiness.

Which of the above ideas resonates most with you? I would love to know what your gratitude practices are and what works for you.

Xo,

Anjana