The act of gratitude is about feeling while expressing appreciation towards others and oneself. This for all that you’ve received, for all that you have, this regardless of however little it may be. Gratitude also extends towards everything that hasn’t befallen us yet.
What gratitude does is it serves as an antidote for attachment, this for what we want but don’t yet have, along with reluctance to what we already have but don’t really want. Gratitude is the polar opposite of feeling discontent towards things, others, or attitudes.
What gratitude can do is change the perspective of who we are in the eyes of others. It can sweep away the unwanted pettiness, the day-to-day drab annoyances of what we choose to focus our attention on.
The “small stuff” and the overly dramatic situations which brings up feelings of annoyance, intolerance, negative judgment, anger, indignation, or resentment.
What showing gratitude does is it can diffuse self-pity along with arrogance, while increasing the feelings of well-being, and the mindful awareness that’s beyond oneself. It invites you to belong to the greater kingdom of the universe.
To Show Gratitude
It’s found that the one thing mentally strong people don’t do is waste their time feeling sorry for themselves, while focusing their attention instead on others and their feelings, this by extending gratitude.
Although it can be difficult to avoid self-pity, choosing to exchange this self-pity for gratitude can be one of the most rewarding things that one can do to improve their life.
The Benefits Of Gratitude
Gratitude Invites New Relationships
Not only does saying a simple “Thank you” constitute good manners and instant respect, what displaying this appreciation does is it helps you influence others who you don’t know to become your allies, your friends.
It’s found that what just thanking a new acquaintance does is it makes them more likely to wanting to start an ongoing relationship with you, that you’re attractive to them.
So whether you decide to write a thank you note to a co-worker, or thank someone for holding the door for you, acknowledging the contributions of others can do is lead to new opportunities.
Gratitude Is Healthy
Those who are gracious experience fewer aches and pains while reporting general feelings of being healthier than others, this according to a study based on attitude and personality behavior.
It’s found that those who find something to be thankful about, are also more conscious of taking better care of their health. They tend to exercise more often while eating healthier food, visit their doctors regularly, which contributes to increased longevity.
Gratitude Improves Mindfulness
What showing and telling certain attitudes such as expressing thanks does is it reduces an abundance of toxic emotions, this ranging from resentment, bitterness, envy, frustration, to regret.
What’s especially closely linked is the connection between gratitude and ones well-being. What doing so does is it effectively increases happiness and satisfaction while reducing anxiousness in an already cluttered world.
Gratitude Shows Empathy
Those who are grateful are generally more sociable, even in environments when others aren’t as kind or inviting. Those who displayed higher incidences of gratitude were less likely to show aggression while not retaliating against others.
Even under situations when things became unsettled or violent, or when the recipient received constant negative feedback such as during an argument, those who displayed sensitivity and empathy towards them, were able to diffuse the situation quicker.
Those Who Show Gratitude Sleep Better
It’s found that writing down what one is grateful for in a journal, this right before going to bed does is it improves better uninterrupted sleep, this by getting the weight of the world off ones mind.
All that’s required is spending 15 minutes at night, writing down thankful sentiments which they’ve gathered during the day, this manually in a gratitude journal or on a private blog online, as doing so has proven for a peaceful nights sleep.
Being Grateful Improves Self-Esteem
What the display of gratitude when it came to athletes did was it increased their self-esteem, which is known as an essential component when it comes to improving optimal personal performance.
There’s confirmation which shows that what displaying thankfulness does is it eliminates comparing or judging others in social situations, which increases self-esteem and confidence.
So rather than feeling jealousy towards someone who makes more money or has a better job, for instance, which can result in animosity, those who are grateful are instead able to appreciate the accomplishments of what they’ve achieved.
Gratitude Makes You Mentally Stronger
What’s been proven is that the outward display of gratitude does is it reduces stress and anxiety, while also playing a key role when it comes to overcoming trauma or loss.
A study based on returning war veterans, for those who were in the habit of displaying various degrees of gratitude towards others, all experienced lower levels of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
When one is being thankful first, doing so can play a major role in their mental stability when it comes to experiencing tragedy such as losing a loved one, or experiencing acts of violence, as they’re able to adjust quicker.
How Gratitude Pays
Once you begin to recognize all of the things that you can be thankful for at all times, this regardless of its contribution or significance, even during those times when your life isn’t that great, does is it fosters resilience.
What we all have is the opportunity and the ability to cultivate gratitude at every opportunity we can get. So just take a few moments whenever you can to focus on what you have, what you’ve earned, been given, rather than constantly complaining about all the things that you’ve been deprived of, or think you deserve.