Stop and Smell the Roses: 3 Habits To Shift Your Mindset to Gratitude
It’s so easy for us to go through the everyday focusing on all the things that are not going right in our lives and complain about them – wishing that for once, something would work out in our favor. Whether you got a hospital bill in the mail or your water pipes busted during the freezing temperatures; some days feel like a serious of unfortunate events. Those annoying moments tend to unseeingly overshadow all the good stuff – your kid hugged you without you asking them, someone paid for your order at Starbucks, and so on. Studies show that practicing gratitude in your life can relieve crippling depressive thoughts and lower anxiety driven by stressful days and events. Research has also revealed that practicing gratitude raises your chances of feeling happy throughout your day. We all want to live in a state of happiness and practicing gratitude can raise the chances of that blissful state.
Below, I am sharing with you three habits to practice gratitude and to feel happier.
1. Start Your Day With Gratitude
Practicing gratitude simply shifts your focus from something negative or neutral to something that you care about and that makes you happy. There is power in doing this when you wake up, since you are programming your mind to start thinking positively from the start. You might wake up anxious remembering the long to-do list at hand but you allow yourself to take a moment and think of something good that has happened – you got to eat a brownie Sunday last night, your friend sent you a nice message, your kids are healthy, and so on.
2. Write It Down
Studies show that the effects of practicing daily gratitude are more impactful if you write them down. Get yourself a cute journal and write away! During a 10- week study, data revealed that people who wrote in a Gratitude Journal every week experienced better sleep, happier thoughts, and good mood compared to the people who journaled about life events and to-do lists instead. Writing it down also provides you with an opportunity to go back and recall positive events that in a span of a year you might forget about.
3. Express Your Gratitude for Someone Else
Sometimes shifting the focus from yourself to someone you are thankful for in your life can lighten the load. Whether it’s a coworker or a friend who has helped you through a difficult time or someone who simply makes you smile- make sure to let them know how grateful you are for them. Not only will this make you feel like a good person but also them!
If you have any other ideas for gratitude habits, fire away in the comments section. We look forward to hearing from you. If you would like to find support or connect with a therapist connect with our team at www.compasscounseling.com. If you would like to schedule an appointment today click here!
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Here’s the truth, you are overwhelmed, stuck, and know something has got to change, but asking for help is hard. Most people think that their problems are not big enough for counseling and wait 8 years or more to reach out for help. At Compass Counseling we know that we all have mental health and you want to feel good about yourself and your relationships. Over the past 8 years, we have crafted an excellent team of professionals that have served thousands of people in Western KY and we want to help you on your path to change. Our Master's level therapists will support you and teach you skills to learn to manage the overwhelm and overcome your struggle. When you leave your first session, you will feel confident & ready to start on your path of change. Connect with us today at www.compasscouseling.com or schedule an appointment.