The magic power of GRATITUDE

Gratitude is an approach to life that not only contributes to our sense of happiness but also improves our health. Every time we give thanks for something, our brain regenerates and we become more aware of the positive things life brings us.

It is scientifically proven that people who express gratitude also tend to be happier because when we thank someone, neurotransmitters such as dopamine are released in the brain, which induce feelings of well-being and relaxation. Similarly, expressions of gratitude thanks to neuroplasticity cause important changes in brain functioning: they activate areas that allow us to understand others better, relieve stress, lower heart rate and reduce pain (physical and emotional).

Research into the neurobiology of happiness has shown that feeling grateful for ordinary things makes us more patient and better at making rational decisions. We become more mindful and creative, understand our bodies better, and maintain a healthier lifestyle with less effort (balanced diet and regular movement/exercise).

You can use the power of gratitude in your life in three ways:

1 ∼ Be grateful for everything you have received in life / PAST.

2 ∼ Being grateful for everything you receive in life / PRESENT.

3 ∼ Being grateful for everything we want in life as if we already got it / FUTURE

Even though you are in a negative situation, you can always look for something to be grateful for. Once you find it, start looking for more, because every thing you can be grateful for changes your perception and feelings about the situation.

If you have had a disagreement with a person you care about and feel anger, regret, or sadness, focus your attention on what you love about that person, while feeling gratitude fill your heart and body. If you can’t, don’t deny or ignore your feelings. Instead, allow yourself to experience them, process them, and realize what lessons they bring.

HOW AND WHAT TO GIVE THANKS FOR?

When something good happens to you during the day, give thanks for it in your mind. No matter if it is a small thing, say “thank you”. When you find a parking space, hear your favorite song on the radio, pull up to a traffic light that just turned green, find an empty seat on a train or bus, say thank you.

Give thanks for your senses: for the eyes that see, the ears that hear, the mouth that tastes, the nose that smells, the skin that allows you to feel touch. Give thanks for the feet that walk, for the hands that creates, for the voice that allows you to express yourself. Give thanks for your astonishing immune system, for all your organs, for the greatness of your human mind that no computer can match. Your whole body is a miracle!

Give thanks for your home, your family, your friends, your work and your pets. Give thanks for food, water, heat, air, electricity.

Give thanks for the trees, the animals, the oceans, the birds, the plants, the flowers, the blue sky, the rain, the stars, the moon.

If you want to use the power of gratitude, practice it. The more gratitude you feel, the more love you give, the more love you radiate, the more it comes back to you.

Are you grateful for your health when it serves you? Or do you only notice it when you get sick or have a pain?

Are you thankful that you get a good night’s sleep? Or do you take it for granted and only think about sleep when you can’t get to sleep?

Are you grateful for your loved ones when things are going well, or do you only start talking about relationships when problems arise?

Are you grateful for being alive every day?

TIPS FOR MORE GRATITUDE IN LIFE

1 ∼ Keep a “gratitude diary” and every evening or morning write down everything that comes to mind that brings you pleasant feelings and for which you are grateful. Even if it’s just one thing, it’s worth it! On the second page, you can write what you are grateful for, even if you don’t have it yet, but write about it in the present tense as if it already is!

2 ∼ Give thanks in your mind before you fall asleep for all you have experienced that day, and trust me, your sleep will be filled with peace and contentment.

3 ∼ Share gratitude with your spouse/partner/children ∼ You can also share it before falling asleep or talk about it in your free time.

4 ∼ Say thank you in messages to your recipients when you send money or pay bills ∼ say thank you for services that enrich and simplify your life.

5 ∼ Write a list of things you are grateful for and hang it in a visible place, reading it every time you feel negative feelings. It’s guaranteed to bring you back to feeling grateful.

6 ∼ Be aware of your own impermanence ∼ Our time in this world is not infinite, and if we can accept our own impermanence and see death as a part of life, it can easily transform our outlook and our reactions to situations that we would otherwise normally allow to retreat into negativity. This allows us to remain calm rather than grumble, to suggest solutions rather than complain, to appreciate rather than criticize, to surprise rather than expect, to remain silent rather than defend, to love rather than fear… Knowing that we can die at any time fosters a sense of gratitude. Let us live in such a way that we go to sleep at night feeling grateful for the day and the actions we have taken in relation to ourselves and other people, and that we have no regrets.

Be grateful! Gratitude costs nothing, but it is worth more than all the wealth in the world. If the only prayer you uttered in your entire life was “thank you” ∼ that’s enough♥

This article was prepared for Yoga from living room by Veronika Kutálková ♥ veganika.cz