Embracing Gratitude for Health and Happiness

I’ve recently returned to the practice of journaling gratitude at the end of each day. I was feeling off center and a bit ungrounded and this is something that has worked for me in the past. It has been one of my favorite practices since Oprah talked about it decades ago and recent studies have shown it improves mood and well-being.

The thing about gratitude is that it feels like it brings me home. Home to myself. It reminds me of the special moments in each and every day, and the importance of focusing on being mindful of the gifts in my life. Gratitude squeezes out the negative illusions that want to fill my mind and brings more contentment and happiness into my days.

And, it’s so easy to do.

The most common practice for bringing more gratitude into your life is becoming aware of what you already have by journaling at least 5 things you are grateful for each day. You can simply write a list, but the greatest benefit comes from being more present and writing a few sentences about each item. This will take the practice deeper into your heart and increase the benefits you receive.

Here are some examples from my journal:

Received ultrasound pictures of baby Adrian (my great-grandson). He is 4 pounds now and such a miracle. I am already in love with him.

Checked in with a friend who was off work for a bit and she is doing well and back to enjoying time with her patients. I am so happy for her.

Other ways to connect with gratitude include:

• Say a prayer of appreciation whenever you wash your hands
• Bless your food before eating
• Take pictures of things you find beautiful or warm your heart
• Write a letter of appreciation to someone in your life
• Sit in nature
• Look people in the eye and say, “thank you”

In order to create a powerful gratitude practice you will need to open your eyes and heart to nurture your awareness of all of the blessings around you. This may require you to slow down and be more mindful and that is a blessing in itself.

Let’s start our days with an intention to be open to all the gifts in our lives and celebrate them with gratitude. Let’s be fully present in our awareness of them. And at the end of the day, let’s solidify them in our hearts with a thoughtful review and writing them in our Gratitude Journals.

Related Posts:

39 Simple Ways to Brighten Your Day

7 Meaningful Benefits of Living Simply

Living a Life of Grace and Gratitude

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