Life is full of disappointments, failures, and challenges. Our days rarely go as we plan, but it’s no reason to make yourself miserable.
Some of us are able to take these set-backs in stride and remember everything to be thankful for, however, most of us get hung up on the negative, and forget to recognize the things worth being thankful for. The good news is that you don’t have to stay that way. Gratitude can be learned and practiced, and the affects will transform your life.
Take a look at the top 5 reasons why you should be expressing gratitude every single day.
5. Gratitude strengthens your relationships.
Multiple studies have proven that people who are more thankful are more agreeable, open, and sociable. People are more drawn to happier, more optimistic people, and those qualities also make you more likely to offer others help with their issues.
4. Gratitude improves your wellbeing.
Practicing gratitude is linked to being more positive, which is linked to improved immune systems, and can increase your happiness levels by around 25 percent. Over time, expressing gratitude leads to lower levels of depression, anxiety, and back bounce quicker after a traumatic life experience.
3. Gratitude helps you sleep better.
Gratitude doesn’t just help you when you’re awake, it has also proven to help people fall asleep faster, and get better quality sleep. Researchers found that people who spent about 15 minutes before bed writing down what they’re grateful for were able to fall asleep faster than those who did not, and stayed asleep longer.
2. Gratitude helps you achieve more.
Practicing gratitude can lead to increased determination, energy levels, and enthusiasm over time. These qualities are key to achieving more in the workplace, and can even help you exercise more.
1. Gratitude increases self-esteem.
Expressing gratitude regularly will help you realize just how much you have going for you in life. It’s so easy to get locked into negative thought patterns, but being grateful can help free yourself from focusing on your faults, failures, and disappointments. Focusing on the positive things in your life will help you feel more accomplished and confident in yourself and your abilities.
How often do you express gratitude for the good things in your life? Share with us in the comments below.
[Featured image credit: www.huffingtonpost.com]