Gratitude is an ingredient of happiness
Gratitude is an ingredient of happiness
by Tyreese McAllister
Most people strive to be happy, then happier, and then happiest. Many people believe they will achieve happiness when they have the things that demonstrate some form of success, such as a big house, an expensive car, or a stellar career. Most of us have grown up hearing, “money cannot buy you happiness.” My reply was, “they must not know where to shop.” I found, like many others, that despite achieving career success and accumulating many things, I was still unfulfilled, searching for the next big thing. I did not find my happy place until I became grateful for what I already had. Happiness cannot be found in the accumulation of things or the accolades from others, nor can it be achieved from extrinsic factors alone. This one key ingredient is already in you. It's simple and yet profound at the same time—it's GRATITUDE!
[Self-help author] Melody Beattie said, "Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend."
What is gratitude?
[German theologian and philosopher] Meister Eckhart said, "If the only prayer you say in your life is 'thank you,' that would suffice."
Gratitude entails being appreciative, counting your blessings, appreciating small joys, and acknowledging all you get and, in some cases, what you do not get. It is learning to live life as if everything is a miracle; constantly conscious of being blessed. Gratitude redirects your emphasis from what is lacking in your life to the richness that is already available.
How does gratitude work?
Gratitude, in all its manifestations, is linked to pleasure. Whether we express "thank you" to someone or receive it from someone else, the sensation is one of sheer happiness and encouragement. Expressions of gratitude aid in forming and maintaining long-term relationships, help us deal with adversity, and encourage us to rise above bad experiences with strength and determination.
How does gratitude benefit you?
1. Gratitude can help you feel better. People who express appreciation for the good things in their lives are happier overall, which leads to decreased rates of stress and sadness.
2. Practicing appreciation might help you become more hopeful. According to studies, those who express gratitude daily tend to have a more optimistic view of life.
3. Gratitude helps to develop adaptive coping skills. In addition, it improves our emotional resilience and inner strength by managing good feelings of contentment, happiness, and pleasure.
4. Professional dedication is strengthened by gratitude. Grateful employers promote a more efficient, productive, and responsible workforce. Employers who practice expressing appreciation are more likely to get their staff to volunteer for more projects, be ready to go beyond to complete their responsibilities, and work joyfully as part of a team.
What are some ways to demonstrate gratitude?
A big step is to incorporate thankfulness into your daily routine, then practice it! Here are a few suggestions of ways to practice thankfulness to improve the well-being of you and your family.
1. Maintain a Journal. Begin and end each day by jotting down three things for which you are grateful. Writing things down is crucial because it gives you the time to be intentional with your gratitude.
2. Pray. When you feel overwhelmed with irritation or disappointment, pause and reset your mind with prayer. Begin with being grateful for what you already have and what is going well, and then make your petition known to God.
3. Give back. Express your gratitude to individuals who do something for you. You can write a message, send flowers, or give a gift to show your appreciation.
What does the research say about gratitude?
Michael McCollough of Southern Methodist University and Robert Emmons of the University of California, [Davis] conducted a study on counting blessings versus burdens and gratitude's impact on well-being. Findings revealed regular thankfulness exercises increased reported levels of alertness, excitement, resolve, optimism, and vitality. Furthermore, study participants reported lower levels of sadness and stress, were more willing to help others, exercised more frequently, and made more remarkable progress toward personal objectives.
When you count your blessings, you will notice that you begin to enjoy simple pleasures and things you used to take for granted. Thankfulness is not only a response to receiving what you desire but rather ongoing gratitude recognizing the small things and searching for the positive, even in difficult situations. Begin bringing appreciation to your experiences now, rather than waiting for a joyous event to feel grateful. In this manner, you will be on your path to happiness and becoming a master of gratitude.
