Ever found yourself moaning a bit too much, whether be it about the weather, relationship or work? It's not easy to be thankful all the time; however, try making a small step towards becoming more grateful. That’d open up your outlook in life as well as your emotional health.
The Benefits
A study found that those who regularly feel grateful, have a higher level of optimism and social support. It can also lead to better sleep quality, hence, a greater sense of feeling refreshed after waking.1 Share your feeling of gratitude might make you feel even better!
Acts of Gratefulness
There are different kinds of gratitude; gratitude for inanimate objects, such as the beautiful sky or weather that you might often take for granted; gratitude for people, like who buy you flowers or make you a cup of tea.
Learn to be grateful by starting to do the simple things below:
- Stop. Lighten your busy schedule. Sometimes we don't need new activities to get more out of life, we just need to feel more connected with what we already have.
- Send out your thank you messages! People always feel pleased when they know they have made an impact in your life. That’d also make you feel good!
- Write a list of things you’re thankful for everyday! It doesn’t matter if they are big or small, just mark them down.
- Enjoy life to the fullest!
Say ‘Cheers!' or ‘Thank you’ to the driver while getting off the taxi; hold the door for the person walking after you; being thankful about having a hot shower after a day of hard work, or simply look up to the sky and appreciate the weather and nature.
Happiness can often be found in the daily “normal” habits that you never pay attention to. Start becoming grateful from today and experience daily routine in a 360-degree perspective!
Sources
- Wood AM, Joseph S, Lloyd J, Atkins S. Gratitude influences sleep through the mechanism of pre-sleep cognitions. Journal of Psychosomatic Research 2009; 66: 43-8.