Wellness

How to Practice Gratitude, and Why You Should


Screen Shot 2018-09-26 at 9.43.13 AM.png

The Law of Attraction states that like attracts like. When you are noticing what is going wrong in your life, you may notice more troubles enter. However, when you’re grateful for what you already possess, you will naturally attract more abundance and happiness to be grateful for!

 

The Benefits of being Grateful

It’s hard to deny the immediate benefits of pausing to be grateful. As humans we tend to focus on challenges or struggles that we are going through, and practicing gratitude can, in a way, rewire your brain to see things differently.

Huffington Post article shows many of the benefits of having a mindset based in gratitude.

  • Improved physical, emotional, and social well-being

  • Greater optimism and happiness

  • Improved feelings of connection in times of loss or crises

  • Increased self-esteem

  • Heightened energy levels

  • Strengthened heart, immune system, and decreased blood pressure

  • Improved emotional and academic intelligence

  • Expanded capacity for forgiveness

  • Decreased stress, anxiety, depression, and headaches

  • Improved self-care and greater likelihood to exercise

  • Heightened spirituality — ability to see something bigger than ourselves

From personal experience, we know how powerful changing your mindset can be.

 

Gratitude Journals

In the first month of Elizabeth’s Workshop In A Box program, we challenge the leaders in the program to keep gratitude journals. There is something about physically writing down what it is you noticed throughout the day to be thankful for. Plus, you get to look back on past entries and remember what was going on in your life at that time.

Aside from the immediate benefits of taking time to reflect on what you appreciate, you also have a journal full of positive things to open up and look back on if you’re having a rough day.

Other ways to practice gratitude

There is more to practicing gratitude than just keeping a journal. Some other ways to bring more gratitude into your life are below:

Take the time to notice, and tell people you appreciate them. This is something we also challenge our Workshop In A Box leaders to do with their clients. If you come in contact with a friend, family member, client, checkout clerk, or anyone you are grateful for, let them know! Spreading your light around not only makes you feel better and more grateful, but others will be influenced by you as well.

Carry a gratitude reminder. Keep a token with you, like a crystal, or other small item, to remind you to practice gratitude whenever you notice it as you move through your day. Every time you touch or see it, slow down, breathe and let yourself experience the emotion of gratitude. 

Appreciate yourself, babe! Humans have a tendency to always be looking for things to improve in themselves and a world around them. Sometimes this leads to us being a little too critical on ourselves. Take moments throughout the day to notice what you like about yourself, celebrate your accomplishments, and feel gratitude for the badass you are.

  

“Gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions. The more you express gratitude for what you have, the more likely you will have even more to express gratitude for.” —Zig Ziglar

If you liked reading this post, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter so you don’t miss any other blog posts!

Name