society has molded us to always want more. think of an instagram post, and how many of us feel elated when our post gets “liked” by other people. we love it. but that excitement is short-lived. it fades away over time, and we’re left searching for more. it’s a never-ending process and because of this mindset, we are at times unsatisfied with the things we do have and miss out on the joys of gratitude. appreciating life is the key to actually enjoying life.
the dalai lama once said: “we need to learn to want what we have, not to have what we want, in order to get stable and steady happiness.”
cultivating gratitude means to focus your attention on things that you appreciate. paying close attention to what we feel grateful for results in a positive mindset. gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, revel in good experiences, build strong relationships, improve health and manage adversity.
but gratitude is more than just being thankful. to have gratitude is to have a greater appreciation for something or someone that produces longer lasting positivity.
how can we practice gratitude?
show appreciation to a person who did something nice for you. giving thanks to someone who went out of their way to help you can do a lot to boost morale and build a stronger bond.
practice gratitude by doing something nice for others. hold the door open for someone if they’re walking in with you. help someone who’s lost. volunteer! afterward, check in with yourself and see how you feel. don’t you feel good?
give the people in your life their flowers. not literal flowers. but let them know you appreciate them! give them a hug. treat them to dinner. everyone has their own way of showing appreciation.
remember: gratitude is an attitude, a choice and a habit.
we can. we will.
WeWyll
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