Gratitude. Such a simple word that carries such a power to change not only yourself but your life as well. Gratitude is our emotion that relates to our ability to feel and express thankfulness and appreciation. Most individuals aren’t born with an outwardly gracious nature and luckily with mindfulness, gratitude can be cultivated and expressed. Gratitude shifts your focus from what your life lacks to the abundance that is already present. “Behavioral and psychological research has shown the surprising life improvements that can stem from the practice of gratitude. Giving thanks makes people happier and more resilient, it strengthens relationships, it improves health, and it reduces stress, (source).” We have learned that by cultivating positive personal attributes we are fortified during times of emotional turmoil, which leads to greater happiness and even resilience! Dr. Robert Emmons is recognized as the world’s leading authority on gratitude. His research conducted in 2007 found “that practicing gratitude can increase happiness levels by around 25% and a practice of gratitude raises your “happiness set-point” so you can remain at a higher level of happiness regardless of outside circumstances, (source).” Gratitude helps us grow on an emotional and spiritual level, encouraging personal development, which translates to all aspects of life. By practicing daily gratitude you can expect to have improved feelings of connection, heightened energy levels, strengthened immune system, improved self-care and expanded capacity for forgiveness. Below are a few tips on how to practice gratitude:
Gratitude Journal:
The most common method for cultivating gratitude is by keeping a “gratitude journal.“ The idea behind it is to record at least three experiences for which one is grateful on a daily basis. This can be anything from enjoying Mother Nature, to meeting up with a friend or simply enjoying an amazing meal. “Recording these positive experiences boosts levels of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, attentiveness and energy, especially when compared to those who recorded or focused on negative events, (source).” You can choose when to write in your gratitude journal, depending on whether you wish to start or end the day that way. Just a “five-minute a day gratitude journal can increase your long-term well-being by more than 10 percent, (source).”
Gratitude Meditation:
If journaling is not your thing consider adopting a gratitude meditation practice. It can be a easy as a quick 2-5 minutes of time you allot to thinking and feeling gratitude. By taking a few breaths to ground yourself and be present you can cultivate this mindful practice. “The more you do this the more you create new neural pathways and alter existing ones as we train the brain to develop a more grateful outlook. This exercise taps into the brains ability to be malleable or “neuroplastic.”(source).” The more conscious we become and open to perceiving experiences as positive (even if they’re not) the more this perception will generalize to other parts of the brain.
We believe deeply in cultivating gratitude and making it a daily practice. We are grateful for our Earth, our health and our fellow Salon Movement members. Having the opportunity to witness life with a positive outlook is rewarding and also at the very core of what we wish to accomplish. Take a peek at our “about us” to witness more of what we’re grateful for!
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