Being thankful for life's blessings is the key to a happier life...
Did you know that gratitude has the power to strengthen your immune
system? Studies show that grateful people are happier and more
optimistic--characteristics that correlate directly to physical health.
Gratitude isn’t just something we practice on special occasions (like
before that big Thanksgiving dinner); it’s a state of being, a way of
life.
So how do you develop an attitude of gratitude? Here are some tips for the happier life that might help for the change management :
Keep A Gratitude Journal.
You don’t have to write a book, you don’t even have to write in full
sentences, but every day, whether it’s while you’re drinking your
morning cup of coffee or laying in bed about to turn off the lights, jot
down a few things you were grateful for during the day. Maybe the
weather was beautiful or you were able to pick up your child from school
early and spend more time with them than usual--whatever made you
happy, put it in writing so that you can look back, reflect and remember
it later.
Be Present.
This may sound easy enough, but living in the moment is a rarity. How
many times have you caught yourself thinking about work when spending
quality family time at home? Or, how many times have you been caught
daydreaming in a meeting, worrying about what’s for dinner or who’s
going to pick up the kids from soccer practice? Our bodies may be in one
place but our minds can be somewhere completely different. Let’s fix
that. The next time you catch yourself worrying or stressing over
something that isn’t happening right this minute, remind yourself to
stay present. Be in the now. Absorb everything your boss is saying in
the boardroom, listen attentively when your child describes their day at
school, take a second to just be and see the peace and serenity you
feel when doing so.
Help Others.
Find a project you’re passionate about or contact that charity you’ve
been meaning to donate to and find out ways you can help others.
Lending a helping hand to someone in need is not only an excellent way
to remember how blessed you are, but it will give you a sense of purpose
and a way to spread joy to others. Give others something else to be
grateful for too … you!
Create A Gratitude Board.
Who isn’t plugged into Pinterest any moment your computer screen is on? We love Pinterest boards because
we can store all of our favorite things on them, recipes, hairstyles,
dream vacations, remodeling projects, they’re all there at the click of a
mouse. So why not create a gratitude board you can go to for
inspiration when being thankful isn’t coming as easily as you’d like.
Start a board and fill it with motivational quotes, scriptures reminding
you how blessed you are. Try to stay away from the materialistic and
instead focus on the intangible: love, family, trust, faith. Go to it
whenever you need a pick me up in the gratitude attitude department.
Share The Love.
Another great way to practice an attitude of gratitude is to express
how thankful you are for the things in your life. Tell your wife or
husband how much you love them, how much you appreciate all that they do
for the family. Talk with your kids, share what you think makes them
special and unique and why you’re grateful to have them in your life.
Send a short email to your co-worker, thanking them for their help with
that difficult project or for taking some of the workload when you
called out sick last week. Chances are there are plenty of people you’re
grateful for in your life, start letting them know just how important
they are.
Don’t Compare.
Comparison is definitely the thief of joy, but it’s also human
nature. People compare in order to assure themselves that they’re doing a
good job. But constantly trying to keep up with the Joneses rarely
makes anyone happier (not even the Joneses). Instead of trying to make
sure you have the flashiest car, the nicest wardrobe or the biggest
house, look at the things you have that can’t be bought.
Find A Healthy Balance.
It would be easy to say that having an attitude of gratitude means
never uttering another complaint again. There are plenty of challenges
we could issue, like try going 21 days without complaining about
something, to get you to practice the habit. But realistically, sooner
or later, something will pop up that you’ll just have to grumble about.
That’s okay. Life isn’t perfect and neither are people. There will be
days where bad things happen and the only way to deal with them is to
vent your frustration. But when you’re done complaining about getting
another parking ticket, the mindboggling amount of traffic on your work
commute or how your barista didn’t make your coffee the right way, take a
minute and remind yourself of something you’re thankful for. Equal out
the negative with a positive and end on a good note.
Life is about balance and we can’t be grateful for the good if we don’t acknowledge the not-so-good every once in a while.
(Source - GuidePosts.Org)
No comments:
Post a Comment