Feeling
down? Want a technique to immediately lift your mood? Think about something
that you are thankful for! Repeating this daily can permanently
change and lift your mood. This will also have the potential to effect those closest
to you. You have the potential to rewire your brain by continual grateful
thoughts.
Focusing on your blessings instead of what you do not
have can bring real health benefits. Thinking about all what you do not have or
lack can have the opposite effect, and it can produce negative health issues.
There is always something that you can be thankful for. This can be a bit of a
challenge if you have gone through many trials and heartaches. If you had
formed a habit of thinking about all that is wrong in your life, it will take
some time to form a new habit of choosing thankfulness.
Benefits
to becoming more thankful:
An increase of good feelings. Grateful people tend to
be optimistic, thus creating more feel good emotions.
Overall you will have a greater sense of well-being,
contentment, relaxation, and calmness.
Happier memories. You can choose to be thankful for
the good that was in your past and not reflect and dwell on all the negative
components.
Less envious of others. Gratitude reduces a multitude of
toxic emotions, such as envy, regret, frustration, and resentment. Gratitude
has been linked to increased happiness and reduction of depression.
Healthier marriage. Being thankful for the little
things your spouse does can make your relationship stronger, instead of
pointing out the wrong that they do.
More friendships. Gratitude deepens friendships.
Improved sleep. Spending as little as 10-15 minutes
daily reflecting on your blessings can help you sleep better, especially before
bedtime.
Get sick less often, and grateful people experience fewer
aches and pains and feel overall healthier.
Grateful people take better care of
themselves.
Increased energy, empathy, and optimism.
Increase in self-esteem and value and appreciate the accomplishments
of others.
More productive at work, as well as better time management
and goal achievement.
Reduces stress and new research is showing that
gratitude reduces trauma. Recognizing all that you have to be thankful for,
especially during tough times can make you more resilient. Being grateful can
help you cope with daily problems better.
Able to let go of controlling outcomes. You do the
best that you can do and work towards the best possible outcome, but you are
able to let-go and let the “chips” fall where they may. Being thankful for
allowing your life to happen on God’s terms allows for greater peace.
Allow others to be a work in progress as well as
yourself. If you’re in a continual state of being grateful for all progress that
you and others make, in turn it will make you happier with yourself and others.
Being able to accept yourself and others, creates harmony and peace.
Feeling sorry for yourself, having self-pity, or
complaining will decrease your mental, spiritual, and physical health. Try
exchanging self-pity with gratitude and see if you feel a difference. Change
your focus from reflecting on what is lacking in your life, to what is good in
your life. Being grateful redirects your focus from what is troubling or
worrying you, to what is good. Gratitude separates our attitude from our
circumstances so that our current reality does not drag us down.
Being grateful is not just a one day occurrence, it
must be cultivated daily to reap the benefits. You can choose to say your
blessings out loud or even write them out. Start your day off right, FIRST
THING in the morning CHOOSE to say something you are grateful for. It will get
your day started on a positive note.
This
is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24
Giving
thanks always for all things to God and the Father in the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20
What about you, what are you thankful for today? Share
with our readers.