Gratitude is about giving thanks and showing appreciation with an open heart. It is about acknowledging the good in life. “It is gratitude that enables us to receive and it is gratitude that motivates us to repay by returning the goodness that we have been given. In short, it is gratitude that enables us to be fully human”, Robert Emmons.
Positive psychology research has proven that practising daily gratitude leads to more joy. Cultivating an attitude of gratitude will help you to disconnect from negative emotions, shifting your attention to positivity. It will give you greater peace of mind, increase your vibration, improve relationships and compassion. Thankfulness can be experienced in four areas of life:
1. Self
2. Others (Relationships)
3. Work/Career/Studies
4. Experiences and material items
"The way to move out of judgement is to move into gratitude", Neale Donald Walsch.
The best place to start is with yourself. Many people are thankful for people and things external to them. By being grateful for self, self-judgement reduces and self-love increases. Then you can move to relationships, work/studies, experiences and material items. This is a disciplined practice that is invoked with feelings of love from the heart centre. You can experience gratitude through:
1. Mindfulness, for example, being grateful in the present moment by showing appreciation or saying thank you.
2. Affirmations, for example, I am grateful for my salary.
3. Guided gratitude meditations
4. Daily reflection through journaling, for example, Today I am grateful for putting a healthy boundary in place by saying "no".
Research has proven that daily journaling is the most effective method. So, leave a book and pen by your bedside. Each night before you sleep, write at least one thing that you express gratitude for in each area of your life. If this is overwhelming or too big a task for you, then start small- I strongly suggest that you start with yourself. Write and feel it for a few moments. Also, you can begin your day with a guided gratitude meditation.
Happy gratitude journaling! Sending you a big virtual hug.
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