Gratitude is perhaps the most important key to finding success and happiness in modern days. Knowing what we appreciate in life means knowing who we are, what we care about, and what makes each day worthwhile. Always start whatever it takes by using the power of gratitude . This is even the advice that comes to us from the contemplative teachings of the wisdom of the indigenous world.
Paying attention to what we are grateful for puts us in a positive frame of mind. It connects us with the world around us and with ourselves. Research shows that focusing on what we are grateful for is a universally rewarding way to feel happier and more fulfilled.
Thanking improves your physical and mental health
As an important mental health principle, the benefits of gratitude extend far beyond what we can imagine. Scientific studies have found that gratitude is associated with:
- Greater happiness
- More optimism and positive emotions
- New and lasting relationships
- Better health
- More progress towards personal goals
- Less pain
- More vigilance and determination
- Increased generosity and empathy
- Better sleep
- Improved self-esteem
What happens when you are not grateful
When gratitude is not practiced, it is lived with an internal attitude of awareness of scarcity and poverty, it also makes us prisoners to be manipulated by external forces that tell us that we will find happiness and satisfaction – finally – if we only acquire or we consume this or that product, or, once we have gone to this or that place, etc.
Our concern for the search for internal satisfaction through external sources, keeps us in an endless carousel of activities and distractions always waiting and waiting for happiness to come from outside.
After the temporary pleasure or sense of accomplishment wears off and disappears – as almost always certainly does – we find ourselves once again chasing the next thing that will fill us up.
Constantly thanking is the key to curing dissatisfaction and insufficiency
The miracle of the gratitude practice is that it reverses this pattern of looking outward for satisfaction, and instantly puts us in touch with all the gifts and blessings that are already present in our lives. We change the spin of perpetual motion on the wheel of seeking happiness from the outside, for the generation of happiness from the inside and out.
This practice is easy to do and can be done anywhere and at any time. The main thing is to start doing this practice more and more often, and with increasing regularity, in your life.
How we can learn to be more grateful
No downside to practicing more gratitude, it seems like a goal that we would all embrace. However, when we seek to invoke the power of gratitude , we must consider two questions: What barriers do we face in feeling grateful in our daily lives, and how can we connect more fully with our feelings of appreciation? And the answers could be many, but basically, the problem is that it is difficult for us to recognize what we have; And because gratitude reminds us of what we lacked in the past.
But there are ways to begin to recognize what we have always had and never saw because of living in the past or because we were led to believe that we had nothing. Follow these tips to bring the power of gratitude closer to your life:
Challenge your critical inner voice
We can begin to feel more gratitude by quieting negative thoughts that turn us against ourselves and the people we love. The critical inner voice is a destructive thought process that hurts us in our daily lives by shaming and warning us against others. This inner critic is like a dark cloud over our heads, sprinkling thoughts like: “Today is going to be one of those days, it’s very stressful!” Sometimes the critical inner voice floods us with a total downpour. This voice can even sound reassuring with thoughts like, “Just take care of yourself. No one else will. ”
Act grateful and accept more
This sounds obvious and simplistic, but it’s a simple truth that just as acting more loving connects us to our feelings of being in love, expressing more gratitude makes us feel more grateful. To call out the power of gratitude, we can participate in acts that help us connect with our feelings of gratitude , from small gestures such as looking the waiter in the eye every morning while serving us coffee or thanking a coworker for a useful task. that he performs regularly.
It may mean taking the time to call a friend to express our gratitude or do something thoughtful and unexpected to make our partner’s day easier and to show how much we appreciate them. In each of these acts, we must strive to be present and absorb everything that happens. We should try not to avert our eyes or let go of the warm responses that we may receive.
Practice mindfulness / mindfulness
Psychologist Jack Kornfield recently said in an interview: “The cultivation of mindfulness really allows us to be present for our own body, for the person in front of us, for the life that we have been given. From that naturally grows the spirit of gratitude ”.
Jon Kabat-Zinn defines mindfulness pretty well as “paying attention on purpose in the present moment, without prejudice. As if your life depended on it ”. He recommends it as “a way of connecting with your life that does not involve a lot of energy but a kind of cultivating attention in a particular way.” When we practice mindfulness, we allow our thoughts and feelings to move through us without taking control and losing us. Mindfulness allows us to be more connected to the people around us and awaken to what we have missed, while connecting with our daily existence and learning the power of gratitude. Practicing mindfulness is an ongoing, organic, and effective way to tap into our feelings of gratitude.
Awaken your sense of wonder
Astonishment is the feeling of amazement (humility and amazement) at the mystery of life. Astonishment is not just a cheap thrill, or dumbfounded helplessness; it is an appreciation of a lifetime, both the fragile and the exalting. Awe inspires us to see through the pettiness of life, and connects us to the big picture, the “great adventure,” and this adventure has significant potential to heal and give meaning to our lives.
Have you experienced the power of gratitude? Do not stop commenting on your experiences with us!