Embody an Attitude of Gratitude
Gratitude (n.) is the state of being thankful according to Merriam Webster. You might think having gratitude is simply saying thanks, or appreciating things in your life. Gratitude goes well beyond thank yous’ and instead can have a deeper impact on your health when you learn how to embody it. Through this blog post, we hope you can learn that embodying gratitude is accessible to everyone and how practicing an attitude of gratitude can benefit your mind, body, and spirit.
Some find the idea of gratitude ambiguous, which is true! Being gracious can mean a lot of things. The embodiment of gratitude we are referring to means recognizing, accepting, and having a sense of appreciation throughout your day-to-day life for positive moments, things, or people. This could mean giving thanks when you get the green light to get you on time to work, smiling after you take the first bite of your dinner, or journaling before bed about positive events that happened in your day. Examples are plentiful and easy to find through your daily life. What matters is that opportunities for gratitude are noticed and taken advantage of.
Gratitude has benefits that spread through the mind, body, and spirit. Everyone can practice gratitude. Whether you already experience high levels of joy in your life, or are struggling to find peace, gratitude will have a positive effect. A gracious spirit weeds out negativity. When your mind is shifted to a positive light and you focus on positive things, there is less room for negativity. This is the basic principle of positive psychology; a glass half full mentality.
Studies including both college students and middle aged women have showed benefits in improved moved, higher levels of self worth, increased productivity, and a better overall outlook on life.
Do not be discouraged if you feel a mindset of gratitude is not benefitting you. The effects take time, but they also leave a lasting impact. We encourage you to stay consistent and practice through journaling, meditation, talking to loved ones, or spending time in nature. There are many things you can do to evoke gratitude in your life, but persistence is key. The benefits outweigh any risk to be gracious (is there any risk at all?!).
From our team at PIM, we thank you for being so committed to your health and wellbeing, and making your health a priority.
PIM wants to hear from you! Do you have any tips for gratitude? Do you find this article helpful? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Sources:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/giving-thanks-can-make-you-happier
https://ggsc.berkeley.edu/images/uploads/GGSC-JTF_White_Paper-Gratitude-FINAL.pdf
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_gratitude_changes_you_and_your_brain
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3010965/
https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/291969?journalCode=et