Wisdom Quest Arts and Coaching

Did you wake up with a smile on your face grateful for another day? Instead did you grimace at the alarm, pound it a few times to sleep a bit more, and eventually drag yourself out of bed? You could change your alarm to ocean waves, a gentle rainfall, or some other soothing sound. Yet the bottom line is learning to cultivate an “attitude of gratitude” in how we live our lives.

When we appreciate ourselves, others, and what we have we attract others to us because they want to be near our positive energy. Think about it. Who do you most want to spend time with? What is it about this person that draws you to him/her?

The more thankful we are for ourselves, others, and situations exactly as they are (yes, even the challenging ones); the greater our capacity to receive (as in more to be grateful for). When we’re forever striving for something more, from material goods to even attributes, or for something to be different than it is, we’re no longer present to the joy right in front of us.

Being more grateful can positively impact our health and well-being. Gratitude has been described by researchers as a ‘natural antidepressant’. The effects of gratitude, when practiced daily can be almost the same as medications. It produces a feeling of long-lasting happiness and contentment, the physiological basis of which lies at the neurotransmitter level.

When we express gratitude and receive the same, our brain releases dopamine and serotonin, the two crucial neurotransmitters responsible for our emotions, and they make us feel ‘good’. They enhance our mood immediately, making us feel happy from the inside.

By consciously practicing gratitude everyday, we can help these neural pathways to strengthen themselves and ultimately create a permanent grateful and positive nature within ourselves.

https://positivepsychology.com/neuroscience-of-gratitude/

So how does one become more grateful? Here are a few suggestions:

1. Once a week either watch a sunrise, a sunset, or the stars at night. It is FREE and one of the most magnificent spectacles available.
2. Write down 3 things you’re grateful for each day (e.g. your child/grandchild, spouse, pet, something you did for yourself or to help another, or something positive which happened. You decide).
3. Start a gratitude journal. Each day, either in the morning when you wake up or at night before you go to bed, write ½ to 1 page about what you most appreciate.
4. Write a love note on a sticky post-it for your significant other and place it on the bathroom mirror or the pillow on the bed or some other spot to surprise him/her. Everyone wants to feel appreciated. You can also write a love note and place it in your child’s/grandchild’s lunch box.
5. When you see the Obituary column in the newspaper, select one at random to read. Think about how much this person would give to have one more day. Be grateful!