I hope that every holiday will be a warm and enjoyable season. However, for many others, this season is tinged with melancholy, fear, or depression. Undoubtedly, people with severe anxiety disorders or major depression are most likely to benefit from professional help. What about individuals who simply experience these emotions at this time of year? One part of the Thanksgiving season, which is ingrained in the celebration itself—being grateful—seems to be able to truly elevate the spirits, according to research (and common sense).
The Latin word gratia, which signifies grace, graciousness, or gratefulness, is where the term gratitude first appeared (depending on the context). Gratitude includes all of these meanings in some ways. Having gratitude means being grateful for what you receive, whether it be tangible or intangible. People acknowledge the good things in life with gratitude. People typically realize that the source of that kindness is at least largely external to them during this process. Because of this, gratitude promotes connection with something larger than oneself, such as other people, the natural world, or a greater force.
Contrary to popular belief, finding happiness can really make you unhappy. This is probably due to the fact that chasing happiness keeps your attention on what you lack—pursuing something that constantly serves as a reminder that it is not already yours. On the other hand, practicing thankfulness seems to make you happier overall.
Importance of gratitude
Although we’ll discuss the specific advantages of appreciation later on, it’s important to note how important gratitude is in general. Despite the fact that it may seem a bit woozy to some, there is a body of scientific research that supports its efficacy. Numerous researches have demonstrated the numerous physical, psychological, emotional, and social advantages of thankfulness. It enables us to fully appreciate all the good things in our lives and the people in them.
Gratitude can help keep us grounded and upbeat, especially in times of uncertainty, even while it may not be a magic bullet or fix-all for everything. Feelings of dissatisfaction are common; we believe our lives are lacking in certain ways and incomplete. In these circumstances, it is simple to assess yourself as inadequate in comparison to the seemingly perfect lives of others. The straightforward act of thankfulness can assist in easing these emotions.
What Takes Place in Our Bodies during Gratitude?
Numerous studies have demonstrated the profound effects of appreciation on our health. People’s physical health shows when they are grateful and content with the way things are. They have a higher propensity to work out, eat well, and look after their health.
Researchers have found that being grateful leads to lower stress, less discomfort, and stronger immune systems. Gratitude has been connected to even better blood pressure and advantageous benefits on the heart. Gratitude also has a very positive effect on your psychological health.
When we experience intense pleasure, our body starts producing many amazing compounds.Keller goes into further detail on the benefits for our bodies.
Practicing gratitude
Regularly Activate Gratitude
The greatest way to develop a practice If you’re not prepared for that kind of commitment, there is a simple way to start along the path of gratitude. Just be mindful. Start listing the items you would consider commonplace. Then pause for a moment to express gratitude for them. Don’t forget to take into account good deeds and occasions, even if they appear minor, everyday, or unimportant. Here are a few instances:
- Give thanks for the cozy cup of tea you have right now.
- Enjoy the roof over your head by looking up.
- Take note of the modest deeds of kindness that you overlooked. Of thankfulness is to avoid waiting for unique occasions. Some people have heard from their therapists that maintaining a gratitude notebook might help them manage stress and anxiety. A higher level of happiness is also associated with daily journaling.
- Thank whoever it was who waved your automobile through the parking lot.
- Be grateful to the kind Starbucks customer who let you go ahead of them in line.
- Give thanks for your best friend’s text check-in on you to see how your headache was going.
- Take a moment to express gratitude that your harried mother contacted you to wish you a good night.
Practice gratitude
While writing in a gratitude diary each day has been and still is very helpful, here are some additional things you could do to stay on track:
- Take a stroll and give thanks for everything you see, including the sky, flowers, trees, and birds.
- Make a collage of all the things you are thankful for using an old magazine or images.
- Create a box or jar for gratitude. Write down three things each day for which you are grateful on slips of paper. Place in the jar or box, then remove it sometimes to read.
- Make a phone call to thank someone for their kindness.
- To show your gratitude for something they done for you, write a letter to that individual.
If you’re looking for the “Best therapist in India,” get in touch with TalktoAngel, a platform for “Online Counseling,” to speak with the best online therapists and online psychiatrists.
