Lately, there’s been a lot of hype on the internet about gratitude, but the practice of gratitude is not a fad. You do not have to wait for Thanksgiving or the holiday season to partake in this life-changing habit. In fact, there are plenty of evidence-based research studies that have proven the numerous benefits of gratitude and its long-lasting effects on mindset, mood and overall health and lifestyle.
Simply taking a few minutes each morning to remind yourself of what you do have instead of you do not is truly transformative. When practiced regularly, gratitude actually becomes a habit, as the wiring of your mind undergoes physiological changes that will allow you to more easily and frequently notice the good that is undoubtedly ever-present in your life.
Before I began to regularly practice gratitude nearly a decade ago, I would find my mind often wander to thoughts of lack, of what I wanted to have but did not. I would spend entirely too much time wishing to be somewhere other than where I was in each moment, wishing for more confidence, more love, more success and more happiness.
Through the many years of continued practice of daily remembrance of what I already have, not only did the things I once wish for come true, but I also gained so much more peace of mind and truly became thankful for all the overwhelmingly beautiful blessings in my life. It also allowed my mind to become stronger and more resilient after experiencing difficulties, because my brain was trained to seek out the good in every situation.
In my own experience, I could wish for more. More happiness, better health, a higher paying job, a more satisfying career, fame and fortune, more friends and more fun. Or, I could see what I have already. A deep inner joy, a healthy and confident body, meaningful loving relationships, a purposeful career with great pay, and plenty of opportunities to experience all the things I enjoy most.
If you’re still not convinced, here are some other scientifically proven benefits of meditation:
- Positive mindset
- Better sleep
- Improved self-esteem
- Enhanced empathy and compassion for others
- Reduced anger and aggression
- Deeper relationships
- Greater sense of physical well-being
- Improved productivity
- Resilience & the ability to handle difficult emotions
- Increased happiness!
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again:
Those who look for the negative will always find it, and those who look for the positive will always find it too.
After the single most difficult year of my life, my mindset has shifted from one of lack and resistance to one of gratitude and abundance, and my loneliness and loss has been replaced with newfound love and hope.
With all the habits and lifestyle advice out there, it can get overwhelming and be hard to know exactly where to start. But cultivating some gratitude is a free, quick, easy and effective way to reap tremendous benefits and improve your overall satisfaction with life.
Because of gratitude, you will become content with what you have in each moment, with the priceless knowledge that that is exactly where you are supposed to be. This is the life-changing power of gratitude.