Gratitude is both physically and mentally healing.
It can be hard to feel grateful when things don’t seem to be going your way.
A friend once advised me to make a cuppa, then pick a flower and just take time to study it, and admire it, and feel grateful for its natural beauty. It really was a calming experience. And that flower was way more beautiful than I’d ever noticed before.
Practicing gratitude reduces stress and anxiety and promotes a more positive and resilient mindset, which can lower blood pressure, improve heart health and help with management of pain. It improves sleep quality and duration and strengthens the immune system.
Feeling gratitude increases happiness and overall positive emotions by releasing the well-being neurotransmitters, dopamine and serotonin. Recognizing what we can be grateful for can boost self-esteem and promote a sense of accomplishment.
Expressing gratitude can improve communication by fostering a more positive and appreciative tone, which can reduce conflict and increase understanding while cultivating empathy by promoting a more positive view of others and supporting understanding and connection. Gratitude can strengthen relationships by fostering connection, appreciation, and empathy between individuals.
It can be as simple as keeping a notebook, and when you stop for a break during the day, note just one thing you are grateful for at the time.
It’s not meant to be complicated to be well, nor is it meant to be expensive.