When we are experiencing a difficult season, it can be easy to focus on the problem at hand and become blind to the good that surrounds us. I love this picture.  A group of Buddhist monks sitting, possibly meditating, and a small dog interrupts and makes a monk smile.  A short captured moment of joy.  If we are focused on what is wrong, we miss those moments.  A practice of gratitude can quickly shift our perspective and improve our health.  Here are some of the health benefits of a gratitude practice:

Gratitude Improves Your Physical Health:

• Fewer aches and pains; feel healthier (according to a 2012 study)
• Less fatigue and facilitates better sleep (2011 study sleep better & longer)
• 25% less dietary fat intake
• 23% less cortisol (stress hormone)
• Reduce aging in the brain and body (NIH Study  www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3057175/ )
• Lower blood pressure, better heart rhythms
• Improved immunity
• Take better care of their health (people who practice gratitude are more likely to go to the doctors and to exercise)

Gratitude Improves Your Psychological Health:

• Reduces a multitude of toxic emotions; from envy, resentment, frustration, regret…
• Robert Emmons, PhD, a leading gratitude researcher, has conducted multiple studies on gratitude, his research confirms that gratitude effectively increases happiness and reduces depression.
• Gratitude enhances empathy and reduces aggression
• Strengthens Positive Emotions and improves patience

Gratitude Increases Mental Strength

• Studies have found that gratitude reduces stress and plays a major role in overcoming trauma (2003, 9/11 study, 2006 Vietnam War Vet PTSD study)
• Gratitude increases confidence, assertiveness (recognizing your own value) empowers you
• Allows for greater acceptance of things you cannot control, let go, embrace change
• Gratitude helps you to use your time more wisely
• Participants in recent study, who kept gratitude lists were more likely to reach personal goals

Gratitude helps us not miss out on the small moments of joy that surround us. Gratitude paves the way for happiness in each moment.

After 30 days of practicing gratitude I found that I began seeing the good that surrounded me.  I began noticing and being more thankful for the love of friends and family.  I began to feel abundant.  As this shift happened I felt my own sense of self worth increase.  Suddenly, I became aware that I have so many wonderful people who love and appreciate me, I must be worth appreciating.  Without noticing it I felt happier, stronger and more able to face the difficulties that came across my path.  Although I had always tried to be thankful, starting a gratitude practice changed my life in small ways that amounted to big shifts in my perspective.  I am very thankful for the experience, it was eye opening, especially on the hard days.  Here are some tips on ways you can begin to implement a practice of gratitude:

• Keep a gratitude journal, keep it short, one or two things a day
• Write a gratitude list before sleep
• 30-31 days of gratitude, to jump start your practice
• Voice record
• Blog or V-blog
• Stop, breathe, choose thanksgiving
• Gratitude Meditation
• Verbally, tell people on purpose, “thank you”.  Try to notice all the little things people do….

A Practice of Gratitude will Change Your Life

All you have to do is think about being grateful and you become grateful.
It raises your vibration…
When we shift our vibration “up” everything that’s not on that same vibration won’t fit anymore and it will excuse itself from your life or you will shake it off…
It can be a painful process, but a beautiful one at the same time.
In the end, you will live a happier and more fulfilling life.