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As the years go by, our worries seem to increase more than ever. In today’s society, inflation is one of the biggest worries, resulting in a chase for money [1]. As we get too caught up in the rat race, we tend to forget about being grateful for what we have. Yet, practicing gratitude is a huge part of self-care and leading a happier life.
Keep reading to discover more about gratitude and understand why it is important to practice it daily.
What is Gratitude?
Gratitude can be defined as many things— a moral virtue, an attitude, a habit, a personality trait or an emotion. In a broader sense, gratitude can be defined as an appreciation for the things in life that hold meaning or value [2].
Having gratitude also means acknowledging the positive aspects of your life. It is a reminder of how fortunate you are to have access to things that maybe other people do not have.
Importance of gratitude
In positive psychology, gratitude is important as it can have a positive impact on mental health and well-being. It is commonly associated with greater happiness.
Expressing more gratitude daily can foster joy and happiness in oneself and also in others.
Benefits of Practicing Gratitude Daily
Some of the benefits of making gratitude a daily habit include [3]:
- Helping you to feel more positive emotions and less negative emotions
- Appreciate the good experiences that you have
- Improving your overall health
- Overcoming the challenges that you face in life
- Building a stronger relationship with yourself and others
When you start to approach life with a positive mindset and attitude, you will also start to see improvements in other areas of your life such as better sleep, increased focus, increased patience, and higher self-confidence [4].
How does practicing gratitude result in better sleep quality?
Research suggests that gratitude influences sleep quality. It predicted greater subjective sleep quality and duration, and less sleep problems and daytime functioning.
People who practice gratitude before bed are reportedly more likely to have a positive outlook and less likely to engage in negative thoughts and behaviors. This results in better quality sleep and less sleep disturbances [5].
You may also like: Benefits of Sleep: 7 Benefits and Tips For Better Sleep
Why It Is Hard To Feel Gratitude?
By now, we understand that practicing gratitude does bring about good benefits for our health and well-being. Yet, for some people, practicing it does not come easy.
Some reasons why it can be hard for us to feel gratitude include:
1. Our genes
According to some studies, our genetic makeup can affect the way we feel and show gratitude. A study that explored how specific genes could affect a person’s disposition, looked at a specific gene called CD38.
It was found that a difference in this gene resulted in a difference in quality and frequency of expressing gratitude [6]. Another gene that influences gratitude is called “COMT” involved in the recycling of the neurotransmitter dopamine.
2. Our brain structure
Research also suggests that our brain structure and activity can also affect the way we feel grateful. For people who feel more gratitude, some parts of the brain are anatomically different and have more gray matter in their right temporal cortex compared to those who feel less.
There are also activity differences seen in people who are more and less grateful. Thus, showing that our brain structure does play a part in the way we feel gratitude [7].
3. Personality traits
Another huge obstacle to gratitude is certain personality factors. Envy, materialism, pride, and narcissism are all factors that can influence the way we feel gratitude.
Envy is when we compare ourselves to others or desire things others have that we don’t. This envy also feeds the temptation of becoming more prideful, materialistic, and narcissistic. When we are constantly unsatisfied with what we have, it makes it harder for us to feel grateful [8].
Ways To Practice Gratitude
Fostering gratitude in our everyday life takes practice. There are many ways to express gratitude to others, to yourself, to the universe, or even to a higher being.
However, one of the biggest obstacles is not knowing where to start. Here are some tips on how you can start practicing gratitude and making gratitude practice, a habit.
1. Start small
Beginning to practice gratitude can feel rather challenging as it requires you to pause and reflect on the moments that you are truly thankful for. Start by identifying one or two things each day that bring you joy or comfort, even if they seem small. It could be as simple as having had breakfast in the morning, waking up well-rested, or receiving a compliment from a colleague.
Focusing on these small, everyday moments will help you to realize that there is a lot to appreciate in life. Over time, you will find that it gets easier to cultivate gratitude and adopt a positive mindset.
2. Start gratitude journaling
Keeping a gratitude journal helps to remind you of all the good things that you have in your life. Whenever you feel that you are in a bad state of mind, being able to look back at this journal becomes a testimony that the negative emotions are only temporary and do not last.
Try focusing on daily gratitude journaling, writing 3 things that you feel grateful for each day. It doesn’t matter if it is something small or big. What is more important is staying consistent for improved health and happiness [9].
3. Start each day with a positive thought
Beginning each day with a positive thought can help to set the tone for the rest of your day. If you have a long day ahead of you, it’s understandable that it may be hard to stay positive.
However, this is where you should try to adopt a shift in mindset and look for a silver lining. For example, “It could be a long day but at least I’ll have a good meal at lunch today”. Making this a habit can help you to stop ruminating.
4. Express appreciation to others
Expressing gratitude to others should also be made a daily habit. Fostering positivity is not just about the way that you speak to yourself but also how you speak about others. If you want to surround yourself with more positive energy, then it’s about taking the time to show appreciation for others.
Whether it is writing letters to your loved ones, or having a heartfelt conversation, all of these can strengthen relationships and create positivity.
5. Practice mindfulness
Incorporating mindfulness into your daily gratitude practice is about being fully aware of the present moment and things that are a blessing.
Try to put aside a few minutes of your day to just slow down and pay attention to the details in your surroundings. What are the things that you can see, feel, hear, smell and taste in that moment?
By practicing mindfulness, you can deeply experience and appreciate the present moment without distraction. It helps you to acknowledge things that can bring you joy.
How To Do A Daily Gratitude List?
Creating a daily gratitude list is a powerful way to cultivate a healthy and positive mindset. Here are some steps on how you can get started:
- Set aside some time.
- Choose how you want to journal (e.g. writing, keeping a list on your phone, having a simple sticky note).
- Write about 3 to 5 things that you are grateful for.
- Try to as specific as possible about the things to be thankful for.
- Reflect on any challenges that you face and how you overcame them.
- Stay consistent and committed to journalling daily.
See also: 100+ Gratitude Quotes to Express Our Appreciation
Conclusion
Practicing daily gratitude can have a profound impact on your mental health and well-being. It can lead to more happiness and gratefulness for what you have in your daily life. It can also help you to improve your sleep quality and have fewer sleep problems.
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