In today’s modern society, the word gratitude started to get significant attention.

Yes, you may have seen posts by eminent people expressing gratitude for their achievements or digital influencers using hashtags with gratitude.

But the question is why people are suddenly becoming conscious about expressing gratitude ? 

The answer is simple.

Gratitude is a magnet for happiness.

Yes, gratitude is considered as a big contributor to happiness, suggesting that the more we cultivate gratitude the happier we will be.

The science of gratitude

According to research studies, when our mind experiences the feeling of gratitude, our brain starts to release a combination of hormones dopamine, oxytocin and endorphins. All three are feel-good neurotransmitters responsible for feeling of happiness and pleasure.

So, acknowledging for whatever we have, we find meaning in our life. Gratitude allows us to perceive and appreciate the positive and meaningful aspects of life. It is an emotion of recognition and thankfulness.

When we feel grateful for something, we handle that particular part of life with care, attentiveness and consciousness. Feeling of being great elicits warm, positive emotions including happiness, love and joy. In order to be a grateful person, we may also be more generous and compassionate toward others. 

Gratitude plays a role in our ability to identify and regulate emotions. When we focus our attention on the good in our lives, it gives us a sense of emotional freedom and serenity, regardless of what we face. When we feel grateful, we tend to experience more positive feelings overall. Reaping the benefits of thinking positively can take time, but with practice, the pursuit of happiness can be effective and worthwhile. 

Gratitude may help us to feel more connected with the world around us, which can lead to increase social connections. This promotes emotional closeness and maintenance of strong bonds in diverse range of social relationships.

Counting our blessings make us to feel more optimistic and better about our own life. When we are habitual focusing on and appreciating the positive aspects of life, it directly affects our level of happiness and sense of fulfilment. Feeling great for these simple things bring optimistic outlook for life and heighten the sense of positive emotions.

Being grateful isn’t just looking on the bright side of life, it’s knowing that right now in the moment, we are exactly where we’re meant to be and accepting that while things right now might not be fantastic, we’re gonna be fine.

But the question is how to make gratitude as part of our daily routine ? 

The art of practicing gratitude

We just need to remember things, people and places that are making our life meaningful. 

There are so many things we should be grateful for such as family, friends, house, food, health, nature, gadgets, appliances and many more. 

Loving parents, caring friends, great teachers and good mentors make our life wonderful. An opportunity to study in school; passing out from good university and having a secure job means we are living good life. 

Because there are many other people on this planet who even don’t have access to basic facilities. This act of gratitude boosts positive feelings and reduces negative thoughts of sadness and resentment.

Though the benefits of gratitude look pretty impressive, practicing it is not a one-day act. We need to be consistent in our efforts to reap maximum benefits of gratitude. 

Therefore, keeping a gratitude journal is one of the easiest way to practice gratitude in everyday life.

Simply taking a notebook and pen and writing down about people, places and things for which we are grateful for do wonders. 

Let’s for example, today I am grateful for mom, dad, siblings, friends, teachers, colleagues, home, school, office, food, car, education, job, salary etc.

We can also elaborate this by writing reasons why we are grateful for that particular thing.

Let’s for example, we could write down as 

Today I am grateful for my friend who always listen to me and trust me. Today I am grateful for my mom and dad who give me all basic necessities. Today I am grateful for my school because of which I am able to complete my education. Today I am grateful for my job because of which I am able to pay my bills.

No matter how challenging our life is , there are always good things which we must appreciate. 

Practicing simple acts of gratitude, helps us to change our outlook to see the world as a better place and build a positive frame of mind.

So,  it’s time to start our gratitude journey by thinking of what we’re thankful for.

Also Check : Power Of Gratitude For Good Mental Health

Disclaimer 

Mediclin Brain Health’s content is for informational and educational purposes only. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.