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Gratitude does more than just boost your mood for the moment. It actually shifts your mindset and plays a major role in success and overall happiness. People who practice gratitude regularly,according to Positive Psychology, could experience less stress, stronger relationships, and better health outcomes.
So, put a little gratitude into your routine! Enjoy the benefits of feeling thankful with these four gratitude practices everyday..
Show your appreciation for others
When you think of gratitude exercises, you have probably already heard of suggestions like keeping a gratitude journal. Yet even more beneficial than counting your blessings is receiving thanks from others.
In this YouTube video, neuroscientist Dr. Andrew Huberman explains that although gratitude journaling can help to some extent, scientists have discovered that these gratitude practices do not always create true, radical shifts in thinking. Dr. Huberman explains that neuroscientists observed even stronger impacts on brain circuitry when people receive a thank you and feel valued.
To encourage acts of gratitude, lead by example. Show your appreciation toward others when you genuinely feel that way. You create an environment of open gratitude, and you may even receive the same appreciation in return!
Create group gratitude practices
Encourage gratitude. In an interview with goop, research professor Dr. Brené Brown explained her daily practices to encourage gratitude among her colleagues. She gathers posters and puts a name of a coworker on each board. Then everyone goes around and writes a nice thing about that person under their name. You can create your own group gratitude exercises like this to encourage positivity and appreciation among friends, family, or at work.
Feel inspired by gratitude narratives
Feed your brain with good news and gratitude stories! Look for people in your life, or in the media, who have struggled and triumphed thanks to the support of others.
In a 2015 study published in Frontiers in Psychology, participants watched videos of Holocaust survivors receiving life-saving help from others. These moving stories, which they call “gratitude narratives,” created observable changes in the participants' brain function. Having empathy is good for you.
Start your day with a morning gratitude practice
The way you start your morning sets the tone for the rest of the day. So why not start it from a place of gratitude and grace? Each morning, before you get out of bed, take a moment to count your blessings. Try to think of three to five things you feel grateful for today.
According to the University of California Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, simple gratitude exercises like this may create long-term, lasting effects on the brain. They release toxic emotions, improve your mental health, as well as offer you a positive start to your day!
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