Cultivating a Daily Gratitude Practice
Do you ever wonder why you feel so much better after a good workout, after taking time for your self-care routine, or even just following through on promises you made to yourself? Why is it that some people seem to be more successful than others? If you want to reach your goals, if you want a fulfilling and rewarding life, then start by cultivating a daily gratitude practice. This can include anything from writing in-depth memories of the day before or simply remembering how grateful we are for everything in our lives. One small act of gratitude has been shown to release as many as six different hormones that improve well-being and emotional stability.
As you can see, it's not just about being thankful for what you have. It's also about recognizing that you don't get to sit back and relax when life throws some adversity your way. Instead of wallowing in your wounds, take the time to reflect on what has been going well in your life and how you might want to stick with that better path. By doing so, you are setting a course of action for how things will look in the future. It may feel a little awkward at first but it will become easier over time as a habit. Start by writing down a list of things that make you feel good or grateful each day and then try to expand on those concepts as they come up throughout the day.
To foster even more well-being, take a few minutes each day to be present. This practice can help you avoid over-thinking. When you are mindful, you can appreciate the joy that comes with every moment. It sounds a little bit like hippie talk but it is actually backed by science—studies have shown that implementing such practices elevates mood and decreases anxiety and depression.
{ARTICLE END} - Brought to you by The Grit Daily .com
Now I'm going to share some information about the author of this great article: Shawn Achor is the New York Times bestselling author of The Happiness Advantage . He is a clinical psychologist who has done research on what makes people successful and happy. He is one of the world's leading experts on happiness, brain science, and success. Shawn also has a show on the radio called The Happiness Show where he interviews people who have shared incredible stories of how they are living their best lives.
I hope you all enjoyed the article and share it with your friends!
"Deep gratitude unlocks creative genius. "
- Shawn Achor, The Happiness Advantage: The Seven Principles of Positive Psychology That Fuel Success and Performance at Work (2015)
"The more you appreciate the little things in life, the happier you will be."
- Shawn Achor, The Happiness Advantage: The Seven Principles of Positive Psychology That Fuel Success and Performance at Work (2015)
"We all have a choice as to whether or not our lives will be consumed by negativity: we can give into the negativity by focusing on problems or we can choose positivity. We must recognize that problems are just a reflection of how we feel inside. If we feel down, that is a choice. If we choose positivity, the world around us will always follow."
- Shannon Kaiser, (2015) See What I'm Saying: Increase Communication and Compassion in Your Life . Penguin.
"When you invest in gratitude and appreciation, you can't help but feel better. And when you feel better, you do better."
- Amanda Steinberg, (2014) Power Money Fame Sex: A User's Guide . Penguin Publishing Group.
"Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues but the parent of all others. "
- Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard's Almanac (1734)
"Gratitude is the heart's way to God."
- John W. Gardner, Gratitude: The Forgotten Virtue (1986)
"An exercise in mindfulness and gratitude can help you develop a habit of deep appreciation, which is at the heart of any successful life."
- Shawn Achor, (2013) The Happiness Advantage: The Seven Principles of Positive Psychology That Fuel Success and Performance at Work (2015)
"For many people who are aimless or unfocused, simply being awake is a challenge. But not for me. Rather, my aimlessness is a gift. Without it, how else would I have had the opportunity to sit at the feet of many of the great teachers and scholars of our time — listening to them talk about their work or just discussing life? How else would I have been able to understand so intimately how ignorance works and where it comes from?"
- Rebecca Solnit, (2012) A Paradise Built in Hell: The Extraordinary Communities That Arise in Disaster . Penguin Books
"The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them. "
- Ernest Hemingway
"Gratitude is the tender conscience of the soul. "
- Henry Ward Beecher
"Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow."
- Melody Beattie, (2011) The Language of Letting Go: Daily Meditations on Codependency . Hazelden Publishing & Educational Services
"If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere. "
- Frank A. Clark (1914–1997), American photographer and folk artist, attributed; originally from Charles Dobbins's 1979 book A Sense of Place , p. 116
"Gratitude is the single most important ingredient in a happy and meaningful life."
- Rick Warren, (2007) The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? . Zondervan.
"Savor the good times and be patient during the bad times."
- Dr. Wayne Dyer, (2006) Inspiration: Your Ultimate Calling . Hay House Inc.
"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes."
- Marcel Proust, (1913) Du côté de chez Swann (Remembrance of Things Past), 1913. Translated by C. K.
Conclusion:
You are reading this because you have an interest in exploring the power of gratitude and how it can improve your quality of life. As you've read these articles (and in the comments), you may have picked up some tips about how to better deal with adversity or learn how to be more grateful. In our society we are constantly bombarded with messages that we are not good enough, that we aren't smart enough, or that we don't deserve to be happy. If you can get a little bit better each day at experiencing gratitude, life will go by much smoother and more enjoyable for you.
Thanks again for spending time with me on this article—I hope it helped!
http://www.youtube.