It’s often said that an unhappy person is an ungrateful person.
But really, does anyone have the time to take a moment and remind themselves what they’re grateful for?
From the moment you open your eyes in the morning to the time your head hits the pillow at night, it’s go, go, go. Kids are crazy, the traffic is a nightmare, your work colleagues are annoying, and then you come home and you have chores waiting for you. All you want is some peace and quiet, but even when those 5 minutes finally come around, your brain keeps replaying every stressful moment that happened.
What if, with all that stress all around, there was a pause button? We don’t have the actual button, but there’s something close, and that’s noticing something you’re grateful for.
For instance, yes, your kid is crazy and you’ve had enough of them running around all morning, but aren’t you grateful to have a healthy child that’s capable of running, being happy, eating on their own, going to school, etc.? Yes, your boss is frustrating the bejesus out of you, but aren’t you grateful to have a job and a steady income?
It might sound too simple to matter, but science says it works.
How Gratitude Changes the Way You Experience Daily Life
Imagine if there were a gratitude muscle. In order to be a truly grateful person, you’d need to train it.
And that’s exactly what you need to do – you need to train your brain to look for the good, even in the smallest things we all take for granted, like being able to turn the faucet on and have clean water coming out of it. Research has confirmed that people who regularly practice gratitude produce less cortisol which is the stress hormone that causes you to feel wired and tense.
That change towards what’s good in your life doesn’t just make you calmer in the moment; it helps you bounce back faster when life slaps you across the face.
If you keep practicing gratitude, your emotional balance will get better because your brain will naturally nudge your thoughts away from envy, resentment, frustration, and fear and steer them toward something positive.
Remember that your brain has no idea what’s real and what isn’t, and it responds only to what you’re constantly thinking.
There’s another bonus here: sleep. People who take time to reflect on what they’re grateful for fall asleep faster and wake up feeling better.
Surround yourself with small reminders like photos, affirmations, objects that have meaning, or even Bible verse art on the wall, so you remember to be grateful. You’ll see, it will become as natural as breathing once you get used to it.
How to Bring Gratitude into Everyday Life
Most people know gratitude is good for them, but few actually practice it.
Here’s how to become a part of the second group.
Start a Gratitude Journal
Grab any notebook, a pen, and jot down a few things you’re grateful for each day.
You don’t need an hour for this, and it doesn’t need to be long. A few sentences and that’s it, that’s all you need. People who keep journals like this often say they’re happier and more satisfied with their lives.
Plus, just the act of writing forces you to slow down and notice all the good things in your life you’d normally overlook.
Tell Other People You Appreciate Them
Thinking about gratitude is great, but make sure to share it with others.
Tell your coworker you appreciate their help, tell your friend you’re thankful they checked in on you, etc. When you say it out loud, the moment becomes more real, and you build stronger connections with the people around you.
Surround Yourself with Positivity
Put reminders where you’ll see them all the time.
You could have a sticky note on your bathroom mirror, a wallpaper on your phone, a quote on your desk, or a piece of artwork that makes you feel calm. Little details like these help bring your attention back to what’s positive and what matters when life gets hectic.
Combine Gratitude with Mindfulness
The next time you stop to take a deep breath, think of one thing you’re grateful for.
Was your coffee particularly tasty this morning? It was? Well, that could be the thing you’re grateful for. Pair gratitude with mindfulness, and you’ll make them both stronger.
Conclusion
You might think that a gratitude journal and even the very practice of gratitude is new age mambo-jumbo, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s scientifically confirmed that being grateful makes you happier and less stressed, so why not give it a shot? If you have a shortcut to feeling good, why not take it?
Please don’t take our word for it, though. Go ahead, test it out, and you’ll see that the more you use it, the stronger it gets.