What\’s the point of Gratitude?

Today I was thinking to \”talk\” about the connection between gratitude and long-lasting fulfilment / happiness. And I will also give you 2 science-based and proven secrets on how to foster in us this wonderful feeling and how to practice it for best results.

But first of all, what is gratitude?

Gratitude means to be aware and thankful for what we already have in our life, for the people, the things (include here your pets, your hobbies and so on) and events that make us feel good and bring us joy.

Gratitude is an emotion that we (can) ALL have. Everyone, in every corner of the world, no matter the creed or level of education, can feel gratitude. But what is most important about gratitude is that it\’s the easiest step that we can all take towards long lasting contentment.

Moreover, gratitude\’s physical responses have been measured and studied extensively in the last decades, and it has been found that it affects our health, both mental and physical, in a number of positive ways:

• Pain Reduction
• Better Sleep
• Better Mood
• Reduced Stress and Anxiety
• Changed Brain Structure

I think we can easily conclude that Gratitude is the 1st step we can all take towards that long-lasting feeling of contentment that everyone is after, right :)?

Because that\’s what is all about, in the end. Happiness is way too absolute and, except for this, it involves emotions that last for a very short while and are at the peak of the \”game\”. It\’s like being in a roller-coaster. If you are reading this, then you too have probably come to realise that what you really want is a state of fulfilment that lasts.

We don\’t want to reach ecstasy, because these states last very little and are so intense that they pass us by so quickly that we don\’t get to actually feel them. And so we end up by simply not being able to savour those moments. Contentment is a state that is (much) less intense, last (much) longer and that allows us to actually savour it.

Gratitude is an emotion, a positive emotion, and we know that positive emotions are very important for our emotional wellbeing. Together with our \”engagement\”, \”relationships\”, \”meaning\” (sense of purpose) and \”accomplishment\”, positive emotions are a key element that determines our emotional wellbeing.

Actually, a 2010 study defines gratitude as the “appreciation of what is valuable and meaningful to oneself.” Here the person experiences a general state of thankfulness and appreciation. The study associated gratefulness with an attitude, a habit, an emotion, a moral virtue, a personality trait or even as a coping response.

You might have noticed that sometimes you might struggle with feeling gratitude. You’re not doing anything wrong. Attempting to focus on things that foster gratitude is a practice. Sometimes it can feel more forced and that’s okay. The important thing is that you’re trying, and you don\’t give up on it.

Lastly, as I said in the beginning, I\’ve got 2 secrets for you, if you want to start a gratitude journal, or if you are doing it already but sometimes you struggle with feeling grateful:

1. If you want to start a gratitude journal, the secret to do it is the following: when you write down the \”thing\” that makes you feel grateful, try to remember it in as much detail as possible. Close your eyes if you need to and re-live those moments as detailed as possible. Take your time, don\’t hurry it! By doing this, you actually double the duration and intensity of the positive emotions generated by the \”thing\” you\’re grateful for. Because you\’re experiencing those positive emotions again! And doesn\’t it feel great?!
2. If you sometimes struggle with feeling grateful, you can try to imagine how you would feel if you did NOT have those persons and \”things\” in your life. Dwell in this scenario for 1 or 2 minutes and then see if it\’s easier to feel grateful for what you have.

Hoping you found this article useful, I wish you all a wonderful fall! Im really grateful for your reading it and if you feel like sharing it.

Until next time, stay positively well, lovely people :)!