November...the month of Thanksgiving. Cultivating a practice of gratitude can have profound mental health benefits. But what does it mean to really practice gratitude?It means to intentionally recognize and appreciate the positive aspects of your life, no matter how small. It involves acknowledging what you’re thankful for, which can enhance your overall well-being and mindset.
Ways to really practice gratitude include:
Mindfulness and Reflection – Being present and aware of the good moments and people in your life.
Affirmations– Allowing a simple but gratitude filled message to carry you through each day.
Expression – Sharing your gratitude for others - telling them what they mean to you has multiple benefits as well a sending a note or card.
Journaling – Writing down what you're thankful for helps to imprint it into our mind and our soul.
Creative Outlets – Art, poetry or music can help gratitude become more tangible.
These practices can lead to a shift in perspective allowing us to appreciate what we do have instead of what we don't. This appreciation can be for material things, relationships, health, well-being or belief systems.
Research suggests that experiencing a shift in our perspective can lead to a number of mental health benefits. Here are a few of those:
Reduced levels of depression and anxiety
Enhanced resilience
Better sleep quality
Stronger relationships
Increased empathy
Reduced aggression
A daily thought toward gratitude will bring about improvements in your life. This is not to invalidate struggles. Problems, desires and disparities can and will continue to happen and require our mental and emotional attention. But when you make space for gratitude, even in the midst of turmoil, it can have a benefit on how you're functioning. Wether you take 30 seconds or 30 minutes I encourage you to make time each day to cultivate a daily practice of gratitude.
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