Exercising Gratitude and The Power of Prayer
Thanksgiving season is a time when people express their gratitude for all the good in their lives. Gratitude is “the habitual focus of the positive aspects of life.” It helps us to focus on what we have rather than what we lack and allows us to notice what brings us fulfillment in life. Gratitude improves overall health and well-being when practiced throughout the year. In addition to reducing depression, gratitude supports heart health, relieves stress, and improves sleep. Studies indicate that people who exercise gratitude are more optimistic, have higher self-esteem, and are more satisfied with life. It is so important to have an appreciation for the little things.
Thankfully, you can cultivate gratitude. Here are six ways to incorporate gratitude into your everyday life:
Reflect on the positive things that happened that day
Journal a few things you are grateful for daily
Re-live positive moments by bringing yourself back to that place mentally or sharing the memory with others
Write to someone and tell them how grateful you are for them
Visit someone, and express your gratitude to them in person
Embrace the small things and be present in the moment
Gratitude deserves more than a season and should be practiced throughout the year! Other ways to increase gratitude include counting your blessings and giving thanks through prayer. Gratitude and prayer go hand in hand. Research shows that prayer can calm your nervous system and make you less reactive to negative emotions. Prayer can also “foster a sense of connection- with a higher power, your environment, and other people.” People who pray benefit from “a feeling of emotional support.” Prayer helps to reduce anxiety and leads to a positive mood. A lead researcher, Amy Wachholtz, says prayer “lets you put down your burden mentally for a bit and rest.” Dr. Rosmarin “tells people who are curious about prayer to imagine a heart-to-heart conversation with someone they haven’t talked to in a while.” Start the day thanking God for three things you are grateful for, and see how your perspective changes.
Reflection: How will you integrate/incorporate gratitude and thankfulness into your everyday life?
References
Practicing Gratitude: Ways to Improve Positivity
The Association between Gratitude and Depression: A Meta-Analysis