Gratitude is good

As we prepare to celebrate Christmas in little less than a month, it is the perfect time to recognize the power of feeling and expressing gratitude.

Cultivating the mental state of gratitude pays dividends in terms of well-being. In fact, research suggests that being grateful for the wonderful things in your life may positively impact your brain, sleep and overall outlook.

A SPECT study performed by the Amen Clinics found that practicing gratitude causes real brain changes that enhance brain function and mood. 

Conversely, the study also showed how negative thoughts deactivate certain brain regions associated with motor and thought coordination. Negative thinking can cause you to be clumsier and less able to think your way out of problems!

People who practice gratitude on a daily basis get better sleep and have less anxiety and depression, according to a study from China.

Yet another study from the U.S. showed that young adults who used a daily gratitude journal experienced more determination and better attention, enthusiasm, and energy compared to a group of young adults who did not use a gratitude journal.

Learning how to spin negative thoughts into positive ones can take some practice, so here are two fantastic exercises that will help you get started:

Exercise #1 –

Gratitude Journal

In a notebook or journal, write down 5 things you are grateful for every day. Do this upon waking in the morning or 30 minutes before going to sleep at night.

The act of writing will help to solidify the feeling of gratitude in your brain and can help you feel happier almost instantly!

Exercise #2 –

The Glad Game

No matter what situation you are in, try to find something to be glad about. This does not mean denying difficult feelings, but trains you to see all the colors of a situation.

To practice, think back and recall a difficult or disappointing situation when you started to think negatively, but then found a “silver lining.” Now, retell that story from your “glad” standpoint. What did you find to be glad about the situation after all?

And let’s face one thing, there always remain that one pivotal fact that we all can be thankful for, and it’s God’s goodness and Grace in our daily lives, and the impact of your spiritual house and leaders on your general well-being.

Practice and Express your ‘gratitude attitude’ this festive season.

Fanie Briel