“Acknowledging the good you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.” —Eckhart Tolle
Gratitude can be described as the acknowledgement of the good things in your life. It has the ability to ground us in our emotions and combat negative thoughts. Whether it is being thankful for people, experiences or resources, practicing gratitude can be beneficial for many reasons.
According to Psychology Today, there are seven scientifically proven benefits of gratitude:
- Gratitude opens the door to more relationships.
- Gratitude improves physical health.
- Gratitude improves psychological health.
- Gratitude enhances empathy and reduces aggression.
- Grateful people sleep better.
- Gratitude improves self-esteem.
- Gratitude increases mental strength.
When you regularly practice gratitude, you start to appreciate your life and yourself more. This results in taking care of yourself physically and mentally as well as increasing positive qualities like empathy and resilience. Practicing gratitude also releases “happy” neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. These brain chemicals reduce levels of cortisol, therefore decreasing stress.
Building your skill for practicing gratitude will increase your inner strength and your ability to combat stress. An easy way to practice gratitude is to journal about a few things you are thankful for each day. These can be small or big things, and the task is something quick and easy you can incorporate into your day.
Check out these journal prompts, activities and affirmations to help you get started on your gratitude journey.