The underrated power tool

We were all brought up to say “thank you,” which is yes, an expression of gratitude, but it goes much deeper than that. Gratitude can be understood as recognition and confirmation of the positive things in life; a moment to appreciate the good.

Licensed professional counselor Jennifer A. Gray explains that gratitude isn't aimed at forcing beautiful, beneficial emotions. She describes gratitude as a way of building muscle by recognizing the positive elements of life, big or small. The practice of gratitude makes it possible to acknowledge life challenges without getting stuck in them, as your perspective is balanced between what feels good and what causes discomfort.

Dr. Robert Emmons, the world's leading scientific expert on gratitude and professor of psychology at UC Davis, describes that people who keep gratitude journals are 28% less stressed.

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How do you start a gratitude ritual?

Would you like to start a gratitude ritual but feel overwhelmed? Don't worry, you can start with small steps.

1. Make the ritual part of your morning routine.
   When you focus in the morning on an energy of gratitude, appreciation, and an energy that thrives in your life, you instantly divert your focus away from any fears, drama, and things that don't work and shift it to what feels great. It's very important to stress that you don't have to commit to being thankful for 40 minutes to make it “count.” We recommend a short, relaxed gratitude meditation in the morning.
   
   
2. Link your thankfulness ritual to something you're already doing habitually.
   Combine your gratitude practice with something you're already doing every day. Do you keep refilling your coffee cup throughout the day? Name something you're thankful for each time. Are you laying out your yoga mat? Deliberately name something that you are grateful to your body for right now. You can do this while brushing your teeth, showering, getting dressed, going to bed, or getting up — anything you do as a regular part of your day.

Gratitude has been shown to have great benefits for our mental and physical wellbeing and may even play a role in helping us be successful and fulfilled in our professional lives. A daily gratitude ritual can help you cultivate feelings of gratitude on a regular basis. If you're not sure how to get started, start with small practices that you can attach to everyday activities and consider involving friends.

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And by the way (and we're not writing this now because we want to promote it, the courses are always well attended anyway:P) but that's exactly why we see this relevance. No time or don't you know where to start? Well then have a look at our “Inner Answers: Yoga & Journaling” courses.

And while we're at it: What are you thankful for right now?

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