They say that being grateful can help you achieve your goals and get what you want. But there is more depth to gratitude than meets the eye. In this article, we want to share with you why precisely you should be grateful and how you can be grateful in spite of your suffering.
The Power of Gratitude
According to Robert Emmons being grateful includes acknowledging the blessings in our lives, as well as the support we have received on the way. When you find something to appreciate, it is very hard to stay negative. So, if you are looking for a quick way to cultivate the ability to learn and solve problems, practice gratitude.
Next, gratitude can also help you establish and maintain healthy nourishing relationships both in a personal and professional context. None of us are perfect. We all make mistakes. Yet, when we do not take each other for granted and say “Thank You” on a regular basis, we can navigate differences and challenges more easily.
Last, but not least, gratitude has positive effects on health, as well. According to research being grateful can improve the quality of your sleep. In addition, grateful people rarely experience pain or aches and have higher self-esteem.
How to Practice Gratitude in Hard Times
It is not easy to think “I will forever be grateful” when you are in the midst of a challenging season of your life. Nevertheless, there are some tips you can follow and implement even in such cases.
First, identify areas of your life that are going well and focus on them. For instance, you might temporarily be struggling financially but you are physically healthy. If that is the case, be grateful for your body. Naturally enough, there are also times when we go through significant changes in numerous aspects of our lives. Yet, even if that applies to you, there is room for hope.
On the one hand, you can give yourself space for reflection. Ask yourself: “What qualities, skills and abilities am I developing as a result of going through this challenge?”. Besides, think about previous hard transitions you have gone through and what good had come out of them.
Finally, do not forget that it brings joy to help another human being in need. So, dare to ask for help and appreciate every little act of kindness demonstrated by people around you. This will definitely help you feel more grateful on a daily basis even if you go through a “dark night of the soul”.
As you can see, the psychological effect of gratitude can be amazing. So, even though we are living in challenging times, focus on being grateful.
