Gratitude is the practice of intentional appreciation and the recognition of goodness in our lives. In the field of positive psychology research on gratitude has shown strong correlation with greater happiness, feeling more positive emotions, and resilience. Research has also shown that expressing gratitude towards others facilitates strong relationships and can improve relationships facing conflict.
Gratitude is not meant to be a practice of toxic positivity, where one expresses and feels gratitude in an attempt to disconnect from the very real and challenging aspects of life. Gratitude is meant to be a way to appreciate what an individual has in their life rather than focusing on what they think will make them happier in the future. Gratitude is a practice of mindfulness and can be a way to refocus and ground – and like any mindfulness practice, it takes time to develop the skill to a point where it feels natural to access.
There are many ways to practice gratitude to bring it into your daily life. Here are a few ways to consider trying:
Gratitude may be something you already practice, or maybe it is a practice you have not taken time to explore. Consider trying some of these practices to express or increase your expression of gratitude.
And in the spirit of gratitude: thank you, reader, for taking the time to read this and any other articles on our blog.
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