Being thankful can actually unlock the door to happiness! Too often we focus on the things we don’t have- the car we want, the stuff we “need,” the money we could use, the time we wish we had…etc. When we feel gratitude for the abundance in our lives, things shift within us. The more grateful you are, the more there is to be grateful for!
Feeling gratitude promotes deep psychological well-being. It motivates pro-social and moral behavior. It leads to higher levels of optimism, lower symptoms of illness and less physical complaints. When you’re feeling a sense of appreciation, even your heart rhythms are smoother.
“There are very few problems, tragedies, or misfortunes that are not a mixed blessing. For example, you’ve heard the adage, “I felt sorry for myself because I didn’t have any shoes until I met a person who had no feet.” -Healing Power of Gratitude
Even the absence of something we need can provide an opportunity to be thankful in the long run. Experiencing gratitude releases dopamine, which brings on buzzy sensations! Focusing on bad shit weighs us down and feels yucky in our gut. Focusing on amazing stuff lifts us up. Pretty simple.
“If thankfulness were a drug, it would be the world’s best-selling product with a health maintenance indication for every major organ system!” -Duke University
Being thankful is also contagious. Send a random thank note to someone. Or make a list of twenty things you’re grateful for.
“When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.” -Willie Nelson
Bless yourself with a thankful heart. Say thank you!! I am genuinely so grateful in my heart for all of you!