Why is gratitude important? When you live in an attitude of gratitude toward everything and everyone, then miracles can happen. One of the incredible truths about gratitude is that it is impossible to feel the positive emotion of thankfulness and a negative emotion such as anger or anxiety at the same time.
What is the meaning of gratitude?
In a sentence, gratitude is an emotion expressing appreciation for what one has. Gratitude is indeed one of the most powerful states of mind that you can adopt. Not only does it make you feel pretty and good, it shifts your focus from what you don’t have to what you do have, and even better it keeps it there!
As you focus more on what you are grateful for in your life you worry less about anything that may be lacking. The result is a more pervasive sense of happiness! More info on CNN: How to practice gratitude for health and happiness.
Why is gratitude important?
Below you´ll find a list of the main reasons for adopting an attitude of gratitude into your life:
- Being grateful has only positive effects.
Be thankful, it generates positive emotions that make you feel good and gives a sense of comfort. When we take a moment to express our appreciation for within oneself or express it externally, you will begin to feel happier, more relaxed and more optimistic instantly; think positive – having a bit of positive thinking may help you realize things that are never thought possible.
- Feelings of gratitude provide shortcuts to miracles.
Negative thoughts and feelings cause an interruption in the natural flow of life. To consciously appreciate what we have now is the quickest shortcut to personal fulfillment.
- Thoughts of gratitude cause our body to produce endorphins.
Studies also show that a positive attitude helps improve the healing of the body and improves overall health. When you have feelings of gratitude at least for 15 to 20 seconds, this feeling create beneficial changes in your body. They are relaxing the coronary arteries, thus increasing blood supply to the heart. And while breathing becomes deeper it also raises the oxygen level of the tissues.
- Feeling grateful puts you in the “flow of life” at the speed of thought.
It´s true, thoughts create things. If you are feeling happy and having positive thoughts, you will create positive situations. Besides, a positive person attracts other positive people.
- Gratitude provides an immediate feeling of well-being.
Gratitude can help us to manage stress. Research is starting to show that feelings of thankfulness have tremendous positive value in helping people cope with daily problems, especially stress.
- The more you give, the more you receive.
You always receive more than you give. If you express love, gratitude, acknowledgment and sincere thanks, you will receive it multiplied. The more we help others, the more we help ourselves.
- When you are genuinely grateful anger and fear will disappear.
One of the incredible truths about gratitude is that it is impossible to feel the positive emotion of thankfulness and a negative emotion such as anger or fear at the same time (tips to control emotions).
For this and much more is necessary to be grateful to all, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant. Gratitude is a wonderful tool that we can use to feel good in an instant.
Science has proven that generosity has beneficial effects for your health. Below, we list the top five:
- You release more cuddle hormones.
By practicing compassion or kindness oxytocin (the cuddle hormone) is generated that floods our limbic system and makes us feel endless positive emotions, love, understanding and empathy.
- Prevents the risk of a heart attack.
The National & Community Service in the U.S. published a study that ensures that people who volunteer in altruistic activities have a 20% lower risk of getting a heart attack or cardiovascular disease.
- You have more energy.
Generous people have a higher daily performance and have fewer fatigue-related illnesses or fatigue. The gratitude to others makes them feel more energized and motivated to perform their activities.
- You have a longer life expectancy.
A study published by the University of Buffalo has shown that generous people live about 25% longer and their quality of life is much higher because they consider themselves as happy people.
- You get stressed less.
No matter whether it is a family problem or a financial crisis, people who are used to help others suffer less anxiety and react better to stressful situations because their perspective is much broader and they do not consider themselves as the center of world.
Dwell completely in a place of gratitude. Learn to utilize what you have in your hands and make use of it in the most constructive way.
Slipping into neediness will become less of a habit when you repeatedly shift towards gratitude, away from poverty consciousness.
Your health and future happiness depend largely on the thoughts you have today. Start or end each day with the thought of something that you are grateful for is the best and easiest way to keep your mind on track.
There are no shortcuts to happiness. But even people who are usually happy experience no joy 24 hours a day. But a happy person can have a bad day and still take pleasure in the little things of life. So, be grateful for what you have.
Take time to smell the roses, enjoy the smell of freshly brewed coffee or fresh bread from the oven, you can express gratitude just for the experience.
If you spend most of your days feeling rushed and scattered, it’s hard to feel happy and content. In order to be truly happy, you need to make time for yourself to relax, dream, and take pleasure in life’s simpler moments.
Beginning today, make sure to spend time doing things you love on a more regular basis. Read books that stimulate your imagination; listen to uplifting music; take long walks in nature, play with your kids and pets and generally make an effort to enjoy your life just as it is right now.
Why is gratitude important? Now that you know, practice gratefulness and generosity. It’s contagious! By the way .. I am really and sincerely grateful that you’ve read this article …. thank you!
