EXPRESSING GRATITUDE AND SELF-CARE

“ACKNOWLEDGING THE GOOD YOU ALREADY HAVE IN YOUR LIFE IS THE FOUNDATION FOR ALL ABUNDANCE.”

                       Eckhart Tolle

One has rightly said that cultivating a grateful mindset will eventually lay the cornerstone of a content life. Gratitude is associated with many advantages encompassing physical, psychological, emotional and social well-being. It assists in recognizing and valuing the favorable aspects of our lives. The benefits of gratitude are abundant, but what exactly does gratitude mean?
Gratitude refers to feeling thankful and demonstrating a willingness to express appreciation to those who have positively influenced our lives. In times of hardship, it is simple to experience a sense of being inundated by life’s challenges. It can be challenging to focus on good things when negative emotions and thoughts gradually infiltrate your mind. Nonetheless, the experience of gratitude can serve as a straightforward approach to ease these emotions. It can elevate our happiness and bring a sense of inner stability. Although gratitude may not be a panacea for all problems, it keeps us grounded and maintains a positive outlook when faced with uncertain emotions. It sounds advantageous. Now the question arises: how to do it?

Gratitude is a real game changer. One should appreciate the small victories in life, such as reaching the office on time, accomplishing a task or catching the bus. Each of such small things forms a web of happiness that gradually improves our capacity to perceive the good. Gratitude is expressible. There are numerous ways to show gratitude. It can be a verbal expression, written communication or an act of kindness. The most easy and uncomplicated way to convey appreciation is by simply uttering the words ‘THANK YOU’. Expressing thankfulness positively influences people. These words are so powerful that their mere utterance makes people feel valued and appreciated, boosting feelings of joy and optimism.

“IF YOUR COMPASSION DOESN’T INCLUDE YOURSELF, IT IS INCOMPLETE”

             Jack Kornfield

Gratitude and self-care always go hand in hand. Individuals who regularly acknowledge and contemplate the things they are grateful for tend to encounter an increased sense of positive emotions. Furthermore, they fully appreciate the positive occurrences, feel more energized, foster resilience, have better sleep patterns and become better equipped to manage stress. Gratitude is a self-care technique which enables us to weather difficult situations. It gives us the strength to speak out against injustice and call out inappropriate behavior, so to maintain our well-being, we take time for ourselves, do what we love and practice mindfulness.

Written By:- Ms. Suman Salhotra(TGT)