Gratitude is more than a fleeting moment of saying ‘thank you’, it’s a most powerful mindset that improves an individual’s well being, boosts resilience and enhances relationships. Practising gratitude can be a game-changer. It doesn’t just make you feel good but has lasting positive effects on the mental, emotional and even the physical health. Here’s a detailed and comprehensive guide for building a consistent gratitude practice.
Why to practise gratitude?
Various researches show that practising gratitude regularly can help in improving sleep quality, reducing stress, and boosting overall happiness. It’s an important predictor of well being and other desirable outcomes. Inculcating the habit of appreciating the small and big moments in life can reshape the mindset, encouraging a more positive outlook towards life.
Tips for practising gratitude
Practising gratitude daily is the way to start a positive journey of your life. Here are some tips or ways to start practising gratitude in your daily life:
Set a time for gratitude journal
Journaling, one of the most effective ways to practise gratitude personally without letting anyone know about it. We can choose to write in the latter half of the day about the acts practised throughout.
Develop a habit of jotting down at least three things that you’re grateful for each day. This could be as simple as a good meal, a nice conversation, or a comfortable moment with the family. Use prompts like ‘Today I’m grateful for…’, ‘The best part of my day was…’ etc. Writing down things like these is a unique and successful way of expressing your gratitude, most successful people follow the habit of writing journals.
Express gratitude to others
Another best way to deepen your gratitude practice is by expressing it openly. Take time to appreciate and be grateful for the people you have in your life. Let them know how valuable they are. For example, write a thank-you note, send a text, or call someone to express appreciation/ gratitude.
Use positive affirmations
Positive affirmations can help you anchor your gratitude practice, especially when you’re trying to cultivate a more grateful mindset. Choose affirmations like ‘I am grateful for what I have in my life’ or ‘I am thankful for the love and happiness around me’ that focuses on appreciation.
For instance, in order to inculcate the habit, repeat such affirmations in front of the mirror everyday or write them in your journal.
Capture the moments of gratitude
Capture the little moments of the day that bring you joy or things that you appreciate. In future, they will remind you of the things you have been grateful for.
Tip: Create a gratitude photo album on your phone and keep on adding photos into it accordingly.
Wrap up the day with a gratitude reflection
Before bed, take some time to reflect on your day and think about the good things you have done today, express gratitude for that. This helps you to go to sleep with a positive and stress free mind.
Make gratitude lists for challenging situations
Life isn’t always easy, but gratitude acts as a powerful weapon in difficult times. Whenever you’re facing any challenging situation, think and list down three things that are positive or the learning you’re going to get from it. Although, it is an orthodox way of dealing yet it can be effective at times.
Create a gratitude jar
A Gratitude Jar is a simple yet rewarding reminder of the good things happening in your life. For every good act, write it on a small paper and drop that paper into the jar. At the time when the jar is completely filled, it will tend to boost your motivation towards your life and humanity to practise it without fail in your life beyond.
How To Cultivate Gratitude Daily – Begin By Thanking God
We must give immense gratitude towards the Almighty God, Kabir Saheb, for granting a human birth in this era when He has made salvation attainable with ease. By seeking refuge under His singular Complete Saint, Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj, we have once-in-a-innumerable-lifetime opportunity to walk on the true path of worship and address our unfulfilled task of attaining liberation from the cycle of birth and death to attain the eternal bliss at Satlok. As this opportunity is very rare, we should at least inquire about it properly before letting it go.
To know more about Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj and the path of worship enlightened by Him, visit www.jagatgururampalji.org or you can watch His spiritual discourses at ‘Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj’ YouTube channel.
