Gratitude ensures that what you have in your life is enough. There is more and more research that shows that gratitude is healthy for us. It lowers your bloodpressure, improves your immune system and ensures a better night’s sleep. Thankful people generally feel better. The positive feelings that are released in gratitude have a direct effect on the calming part of our nervous system and have a positive effect on our stress hormones.
A pitfall is comparing yourself with others. The grass may seem greener on the other side. Gratitude will give you focus on your own life, whereas comparing yourself with others, is a recipe to feel unhappy.
If you cannot feel grateful right away, there is good news: you can train gratitude. You can make lists, like for example: I have enough to eat, I have a roof over my head, I have warm clothes when it is cold outside. Personally I am happy for all of those things. Furthermore, I am grateful for the good result of the mammography, for my friends, for the unconditional love of my dog Buddy, and for the fact that I am on the threshold of making other choices in my private life.
Even if life gives you lemons, gratitude can turn it into lemonade. Gratitude can put events in a different light, it can make you wonder what the event has taught you and if it has brought you personal growth.
By focussing on gratitude, you will feel better!
Mary
