We Are Approaching the Month of Thankfulness -- It's Time to Start a Daily Gratitude Practice

Thanksgiving is a time when our thoughts turn to gratitude. But there is a huge body of research that now shows that having a daily gratitude practice has a slew of benefits. Here is an excerpt from an article on gratitude, by Dr. Lisa Firestone, taken from Psychology Today

"I probably tend to sound like a broken record when I talk about the benefits of gratitude. Yet, I can’t overstate the rewards of connecting to gratitude on a consistent basis to both our physical and mental health. Research is continually showing that taking the time to focus on what we’re grateful for is a powerful way to feel happier and more fulfilled. And I’ve seen this data proven firsthand in friends and family, as well as patients, who’ve tried a daily gratitude practice or simply made adjustments to their mindset to think about what they’re thankful for rather than what they resent in a given situation.

"So, what are some ways we can make being grateful a tangible daily action item on an already long to-do list? My suggestion is to find a method that works for you. That may be five minutes to merely meditate on the things that we appreciate or taking time to make a list in a journal. It may mean actually thanking someone for something, as the act of acknowledgment itself can make us feel more grounded and connected.

"Reflecting on what we’re thankful for has an amazing way of shifting our outlook from pessimistic to positive. It doesn’t make all the things that we’re upset about go away, but it may transform the way we look at them by softening us, making us feel more ourselves, and even more resilient. With plenty of things that could inspire cynicism being thrown our way on a daily basis, gratitude is a secret tool for any aspiring optimist (or anyone who wants to keep a good balance of lightness in their attitude and strength in their stamina for facing life’s inevitable challenges).

"If you’re still not sold on putting gratitude into practice, here are some of the findings on its benefits:

• Greater happiness

• More optimism and positive emotions

• New and lasting relationships

• Lower levels of the stress hormone, cortisol, in the body

• Better health -- fewer visits to physicians!

• More progress toward personal goals

• Fewer aches and pains

• More alertness and determination

• Increased generosity and empathy

• Better sleep

• Improved self-esteem

"Ultimately, our emotional reactions are a part of us, and our goal isn’t to bury or fight every mood that we experience. A change in our mood can give us valuable information about something we need to reflect on, address, or alter in our lives. However, changing our approach to how we handle these shifts in our mood can be an empowering process.

In the next blogpost, I will describe a daily gratitude practice that I have developed over the last six months. It's working like a charm, and I'm excited to share it with others! STAY TUNED!!