From Our Partners
Erika Healy , RPN | Nurse Care Specialist , HumanaCare
Practising Gratitude Can Have Positive Effects on Physical and Mental Health
When you experience gratitude , you feel grateful for something or someone in your life and respond with feelings of kindness , warmth , and other forms of generosity . Making a conscious effort to count your blessings can relate to something tangible or intangible . How can we incorporate it into our daily lives ? Numerous studies have shown that people who practice gratitude are happier , have lower stress levels , suffer less from depression , engage in better self-care , and have significantly fewer physical health problems . Practising gratitude reduces headaches , respiratory infections , sleep disturbances , and gastrointestinal problems . It also helps people feel more positive emotions , relish good experiences , improve their health , deal with adversity , and build strong relationships .
Practising gratitude is not something that always comes easily or naturally , and that is okay . It might feel a little unnatural or forced at first , and can take some work and a bit of time to master . Often we have to consciously remind ourselves of things in our lives that we can be grateful for , especially on tough days . You can also go back in your past and reframe a negative experience you may have had . Compare those experiences with where you are now and how far you have come . Remind yourself how you endured those experiences and what you learned . With the power of positive thinking , we can put negative situations into perspective and find a greater meaning .
With the many challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to people ’ s physical , emotional , and financial well-being , it may not always be easy to practise gratitude . Many have lost jobs and loved ones , and many are missing family and friends that they have not been able to see in months or years . During these difficult times , gratitude has the power to heal and bring hope .
Here are some daily tips you can try to practise gratitude :
● Keep a journal — Writing down what you are grateful for each day helps you focus on all you have in life rather than on what you are lacking . Journalling your thoughts can also be fun and insightful .
42 | arta . net GRATITUDE