Did you know that gratitude can be a type of superfood for your mind, body, and soul? There’s a growing body of research that establishes gratitude as a practice with a whole host of physical and psychological benefits. Grateful people enjoy stronger relationships and are more likely to be optimistic, inspired, and empathetic. Cultivating a mind-set of gratitude has also been linked to increased levels of immunity, higher sleep quality, and improved heart health. Just as you exercise your body, you can exercise your mind to view the world in new ways. A few minutes each week is all it takes to cultivate gratitude and experience the benefits of this ‘superfood.’ Below are a few ideas:
For one week, write a list of things you feel grateful for in your life each morning. You can include tangible things like people, places, and events, as well as more abstract things like a particular feeling you experienced in a situation. Keep this list in a journal, in your planner, on your desk, or posted in a place where you’ll see it daily. Continue challenging yourself to add new items to your list and notice how the feeling of gratitude grows and expands throughout your day.
Write a gratitude letter or email to a friend, family member, or colleague. Be specific and authentic. Not only will this exercise make you feel great, but if you choose to share the letter, the recipient will feel the glow of gratitude as well
Once a week for the next month, commit to making a list of three things that you feel grateful for. Then, spend a few minutes pinpointing the specific sources of your gratitude in a few sentences for each. This will help you become mindful of gratitude’s role in your life, and deepen your practice over time.
