The art of practicing
gratitude can infiltrate and affect your life in the best possible way. From
the physical aspect of sleeping better to stronger immune systems all the way
to the mental aspect of less anxiety and experiencing more positive emotions - gratitude
affects us all for the better. It can be as simple as 5 minutes a day too!
If you feel like you are
naturally pessimistic or cynical, know that it is possible to change your
thoughts. Studies have shown that practicing gratitude can help your viewpoint:
“In one study of keeping a weekly gratitude journal,
participants showed a 5% increase in optimism. In
another study, keeping a daily gratitude journal resulted in a 15%
increase in optimism.a2 Optimism is significantly
correlated with gratitudee2 The above studies show that it
isn’t just correlation – increasing one’s level of gratitude increases one’s
level of optimism.”
- The Benefits of Gratitude, posted by the Happier Human
- The Benefits of Gratitude, posted by the Happier Human
Some tips on how to
practice gratitude:
- Journal 5 things every night
that you are grateful from that day.
- Take a “gratitude walk” where
you think about things in your life that you are thankful for and enjoy
nature while you’re at it.
- A random act of kindness for a
stranger can feel as oddly satisfying (if not more) than doing something
for yourself. Buy someone’s cup of coffee behind you in the drive through
line or leave a note on your neighbor’s door with some flowers.
- When someone does something for
you, have your immediate response be an audible “thank you, I appreciate
that you _______” in the moment.
- Write a letter to someone who
has impacted you.
Even if it doesn’t come
naturally now, over time if you continue to practice gratitude you can be
surprised about how it seeps into all your thoughts, relationships, and
ultimately life. This may seem easier for some than others and if you’d like to
discuss it further you can
either email me at leemiller.therapist@gmail.com or call my office at (310)
614-0323.
