Share the Love, Practice Gratitude Every Day to Transform Your Life and the Lives of Those Around You!

Here in the US, we are coming up on Thanksgiving.  It's a nice holiday because we get to share food with family and friends, without the extra burden of giving gifts and other more materialistic pastimes. We are able to give thanks for what we have in our lives, in other words, we express our gratitude.

While it's nice to have a day focused on expressing our gratitude, practicing gratitude on a daily basis has many positive effects, some of which you may surprise you.

What is a gratitude practice?

A gratitude practice is simply taking time every day to express gratitude for the blessings in your life.  These blessings are often overlooked if we don't consciously take the time to count them.

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What happens when we practice gratitude?

Our personal perspective changes.

When we practice gratitude our focus changes from what we don't have to what we do have.

When we focus on what we have, or what we are grateful for, our sense of negativity, entitlement, and obstacles dissolve.

It helps to remember that reality is personal and subjective.  It's a product of our own unique history, our attitudes, and our beliefs.

If we can remember that, then with our inner awareness we can see the possibilities and the choice for change in any moment.

It's liberating to understand that we can change our reality and it empowers us to see the opportunities in our lives with fresh eyes.

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Our mind-body connections change.

The feeling we produce from practicing gratitude doesn't just stay in our mind or in our heart.  The positive input to our mind-body system leads to increased psychological and physical well-being.

This positive input from our minds actually change your brain chemistry and circuitry.  Positive thoughts transmit their effects via neurotransmitters to the body's cells, creating new brain cells, pathways, and brain patterns.

Positive thoughts have even been found to change our gene expression in a positive way.

The field of epigenetics is devoted to the study of gene expression and how our lifestyle and the things that happen to us in our lives can change how our genes are expressed.  

Without going into all of the technical detail, don't you think it's exciting?

Not only will a gratitude practice increase our happiness and contentedness, but it can also impact our health and well-being in a positive way.   ​

Write down what you're grateful for, say it to someone else or say it to yourself.

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Our relationships change

Feeling gratitude towards one another, expands your heart which has the effect of erasing resentments, petty differences and old grievances that we may have been holding onto.  

It is practically impossible to feel both gratitude and anger at the same time.

Gratitude is an expression of love and can help to remove feelings of distance and separation from our loved ones.

Gratitude benefits both the giver and receiver.  The expansion and the healing of our hearts uplifts and opens every aspect of our relationship with that person.  These feelings are shared by both of you.

What if we could completely transform our relationships just by practicing gratitude?  Hint:  It's way cheaper than therapy!

No matter when you're reading this, try to make practicing gratitude part of your life.  Whether it's appreciating a beautiful sunrise or sunset, or just being grateful you have a roof over your head, it will make a difference in your perception of your life.

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Will you join me in an experiment?

I know the time for resolutions is at the New Year, but instead of waiting, let's all try to express gratitude for three things every day.    

​Let's see how our perception of the holidays changes with our practice of gratitude.

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You get bonus points if you share this article with your friends!

Try to share with at least three friends and you can even make a pact to check in daily with each other, even if it's just a quick text with one thing you're grateful for.