You may have heard or read that the practice of gratitude can change your life! It sounds so simple and silly, but it really can. It’s not “woo woo” and it can change your brain and thus your world. As it is such a simple practice to do, it is often overlooked by so many people that would benefit from it.
The overlooked simple practice of being grateful, can have a transformative effect on your mind and body. Truly it can! Plus it’s been scientifically proven that our thoughts affect our bodies, and the majority of stress we suffer comes from the mind and our thoughts!
Without being aware we often think negatively a lot of the time (worrying, criticising, moaning and judging is all negative stuff!), and this negative thinking does not make you feel good and causes stress. Negative thinking causes negative energy which you transmit to others around you and also affects the health of your body.
I learnt about the magical practice of gratitude when I was working in law and every morning I was waking up with dread and had a sickening and anxious feeling deep in my stomach, just from thinking about my working day ahead. Then I practiced turning my thoughts around and being grateful for everything I had. I did this morning and night and having a gratitude practice helped me get through some of the darkest days and toughest times of my life. It is one of my go to tools to help me feel better and create more good in my life. Here’s a short guide to the life changing practice of gratitude.
What is gratitude?
Gratitude is being thankful for what you have, not what you don’t have. It is being grateful for all the things you do have in your life right now, the little things and the big things. Counting your blessings. The practice requires you to look at everything you do have rather than dwelling on what you do not, focusing on the positives in life rather than the negatives. When we are grateful, we feel more positive. In order to manifest more positive things in our lives, we need to feel good and positive in order to attract good into our life. Being grateful helps shift your mindset into one of abundance rather than lack.
Developing an attitude of gratitude requires a mindset shift to make it a daily habit to be grateful for and thankful for everything you appreciate in life.
How do you practice gratitude?
The practice of gratitude needs to be a daily habit. It requires a mindset shift to look at all the things you have in your life to be thankful for and appreciate all that you have. I like to do my gratitude practise both in the morning when I first wake up and at night in bed before I go to bed. I keep a journal by my bed and simply right down in the morning three things I am grateful for in respect of the day ahead. Then, before bed, I write down 3 things I am grateful for the day that has been. It also helps me to sleep better and wake up in a more positive frame of mind.
Train your mind as much as your body
Practising gratitude helps you to learn to watch your thoughts and then train yourself to choose more positive thoughts over negative ones. The wonderfully empowering thing is knowing that our thoughts really do create “our world”! When you realise that you can choose your thoughts and train your mind to choose more positive thoughts, you actually strengthen the more positive and productive neural pathways, and thus changing the wiring of your brain and, in doing so, you can literally change your life for the better!
In a really bad funk?
If you are in a serious funk and really struggle to think positively and shift your perspective to a more positive one, then my recommendation would be to get your body moving! Moving helps to create more positive energy and raise your vibration (if you are into energy). Do a workout from Nurture or get yourself to one of my yoga or Pilates classes; the very act of moving, deep breathing, and focusing your mind on your practise and surrounding yourself with positive energy will get you out of that funk, GUARANTEED!! 😘