Let me share with you the secret to long lasting happiness. It is … Gratitude. Thank goodness for gratitude! It is my favourite and niche Happiness habit and has immensely helped me many times through life’s challenges. Gratitude is the practice of counting our blessings for what we already have in our lives. For being thankful with what we have. For appreciating where are are, what we have and what we are doing. It is the recognition of what is already wonderful in our lives. It is a habit of the heart and when practised regularly helps cultivate and enhance all the other virtues. The Roman, Marcus Cicero is quoted as saying:
Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others
Marcus Cicero
Thanks Giving is a a traditional time when many people reflect on gratitude and give thanks for what they already have. Traditionally Thanksgiving started as a harvest festival to give thanks for the harvest collected.
What can you give thanks for, be grateful for that you already have in your life?
Could it be for hot running water? shelter, family, friends, food, heating, transport options, work, study, community, hospitals, etc?
The beauty of gratitude is that it amplifies the good we already have, it helps rescue us from negativity or struggles and fosters connection. It heals, gives hope and helps us not feel deflated.
Some scientific proven benefits for happiness - in particular Gratitude - from Gratitude Researcher Robert Emmons:
Practice of gratitude has dramatic, lasting and positive results: every time
Journal Diary - 2 weeks - sustained reductions in stress (25%) and depression (16%) in health care practitioners
23% lower levels of stress hormones (cortisol)
10% improvement in sleep quality in patients with chronic pain (76 % had insomnia) and 19% lower depression levels
Letter of gratitude reduced feeling of hopelessness in 88% of suicidal patients and increased levels of optimism in 94% of them
Gratitude activates the learning centres in the brain hence helping us be solution focused and found solutions to life’s challenges. It helps increase the release of the happy chemicals such as Dopamine into our system and flush out the stress hormones such as cortisol thereby reducing stress and making us feel happy. It has an impact on our mental and physical health improving our overall well being.
Scientifically proven benefits of gratitude
Resources
21 Day Gratitude Challenge starting 23rd Nov 2019
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Happy Life Habits does workshops on Happiness at Work, Gratitude, Kindness, Mindfulness, Habits.
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About the Author
Shaileen Shah is a Happiness Coach, Speaker and Trainer. Previously having been in finance technology for the investment banking arm of RBS during the RBS takeover of Natwest, the RBS takeover of ABN Ambro and the financial crisis he has experienced the challenges brought by uncertainty, change and stress. He is certified in The Science of Happiness and shares through Happy Life Habits. Happy Life Habits Positively Impacts Happiness & Well Being Levels by creatively and uniquely combining Personal Development + The Science of Happiness + Spirituality. A business for Good; supporting the UNs Sustainable Development Goals. For more information see HappyLifeHabits.co.uk.