WHY PRACTICE GRATITUDE? + 3 WAYS YOU CAN DO IT
WHY SHOULD WE PRACTICE GRATITUDE?
We see it everywhere. The emphasis on practising gratitude.
Sometimes it sounds pretty cheesy and usually doesn’t come with any explanation on why we should do it.
The last couple of days here in Bali, I’ve become reminded of why it’s such a powerful practice in different ways and situations.
Yesterday for example I had a really shitty day (yes that can happen in Bali too!) and I was really frustrated when I went to bed. I was going to turn off the light when I instead decided to take out my notebook and write down 10 things that I was grateful for about the day.
At first I could only think of one thing.
And then I remembered another.
And another.
And just like that I’d written down 10 things of which I was grateful for, on a day where everything seemed shitty and I just wanted the night to pass so I could wake up feeling better the next.
GRATITUDE SHIFTS OUR PERSPECTIVE
It can shift your inner state pretty quickly, to actively think of positive things - when the mind wants to cling onto the negative.
IT BRINGS YOU BACK TO THAT MOMENT AND FEELING
Every day there’s something to be grateful. We might have to think for a bit to have it pop up in our heads but I promise there’s at least one thing!
Remember that it’s not only the good things that happen we can we be grateful for, it’s also the less good ones!
THERE’S A LEARNING IN EVERTHING
Something might happen to us that we question why it did, and doesn’t make sense in the moment. But usually looking back we can find some gratitude about it.
Here are 3 ways you can bring a gratitude practice into your life:
Start each day writing down 3 things you’re grateful for (VERY powerful on a day when you wake up feeling like crap)
Each evening before you go to bed write down 10 things you’re grateful for that day.
Catch yourself each time you’re complaining or thinking a negative thought - by thinking of something you’re grateful for.
Do you practice gratitude and what do you feel it does to you?
Do you have another way to practice it?
Please share, I’d love to know!
With love,
Lisa
