5 Ways To Practice Gratitude

Gratitude is a powerful tool for mindfulness. Practising Gratitude can benefit you in many ways, including improving your overall well-being. Gratitude practice has been shown to have spectacular effects on the body, such as strengthening the immune system ¹. Many psychologists advise patients suffering from depression and anxiety to begin practising gratitude.

Gratitude benefits both your mental and physical health. But does practising gratitude simply imply saying "Thank You" to God or other people?

Thanking God or other humans for doing something for you is Gratitude, but that’s not all there is to it. The biggest and most important part of practising gratitude is to be grateful without waiting for something good to happen. It includes being thankful for the food you eat daily and not just for the day you got a juicy burger to eat.

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Gratitude is the practice of appreciating the things you have in your life.

When you see someone authentically practising gratitude, you can witness them having an energetic experience. These people feel grateful for the morning mist, a hot shower, the sun setting over the ocean, or receiving a gift ².

Here are 5 ways you can practice Gratitude daily:

1. Write Down What You Are Grateful For- Journaling or writing down 5 things you are grateful for every night has reportedly shown great results in just 2 weeks ³.
2. Grateful Mornings- Sit by yourself every morning and meditate. While meditating, consider how your life has changed, both positively and negatively. Then think of how far you have come and be grateful for the tiny things that helped you get here.
3. Gratitude Jars- Make a gratitude jar and drop money into it whenever you feel grateful for something. At the end of the month, open up the jar and use the money to sponsor any NGO or organization you believe in. This helps you feel good about yourself and spread love. 
4. Express Gratitude- Start by saying "Thank You" to at least one person in your immediate vicinity. Alternatively, tell at least one person why you are grateful to them.
5. Breathes of Gratitude- Sit and start taking deep breaths. With each exhale, thank your body for working well and keeping you healthy.

Practising gratitude is a great way to develop mindfulness. But, it does not mean dismissing your life's difficulties. Comparing your problems to those of others and forcing yourself to be grateful can harm your health. It is critical to know where to draw the line.

Positive feelings are encouraged by gratitude practice. If it does not, you are not doing it correctly. Speak with an expert to determine the fine line between gratitude and self-invalidation.

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References : 

1. https://drjoedispenza.com/blogs/dr-joes-blog/thanksgiving-and-authentic-gratitude?_pos=4&_sid=5ef3ab25e&_ss=r
2. https://www.webmd.com/balance/features/gratitute-health-boost

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