Pause. Breathe. And appreciate the small things.
Gratitude is the practice of observing the things in our lives that we are grateful for, things that make we feel appreciation. It can be triggered by simply recognizing the positive things around you.
When we feel grateful, we usually also feel happy, calm, loving and joyful. Gratitude leads to feelings of pleasure and contentment, which positively impacts our overall health and wellbeing.
“Gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions.”
- Zig Ziglar
A beautiful light on a sunny day, a song you like, receiving some great news - or spending time with someone you love. It's all about experiencing that feeling of appreciation.
Think of anything that brings you a memory of how gratitude feels like. It could be when someone gave you a gift, a warm hug when you needed it, or kind words from someone on a difficult day. That's what Gratitude feels like.
And there is the ripple effect. The more grateful you feel, the more you start to notice things to feel grateful for. And what may seem like an insignificant gesture can have a big impact. It's the collection of the little things that creates your overall experience.
“Be thankful for what you have, you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never ever have enough.”
- Oprah Winfrey
When we feel more grateful on the inside and express it on the outside, we develop emotional resilience and cope better during stressful and challenging times. As we strengthen and grow our sense of gratitude, more energy and fulfillment can then flow to us.
Feeling grateful does not necessarily mean that you have to wake up singing to birds and flowers everyday and deny the pressures of the day ahead of you. Instead, it is the ability to look at life’s challenges without forgetting the things you have accomplished, the relationships that sustain you, your health, and the beauty around you.
When life gets a little rough, gratitude can be a spark of peace and positivity that help us focus on better days.
Take time to focus on and grow your gratitude for what you already have. The relationships you’ve nurtured over the years, the roof over your head, the qualities and gifts within you, and the material items you have worked so hard for. I assure you that magical moments are waiting to be noticed.
To me, even small things like the soft light coming through the windows in the morning, the texture of my bedsheets and pillows, stretching my body, the water temperature in the shower, or the smell of my favorite moisturizer… can trigger this feeling of thankfulness.
The possibilities are all around us, but if you don’t recognize them, it just stays invisible to you. And that’s the art of gratitude. So, pause, breath, and appreciate yourself, thank someone, and spread the magic!
by Luana Viana - Creative Manager of the Akasha Center, Biologist, Musician, and Visual Artist.
