Gratitude: The Life-Changing Skill Everyone Should Learn
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In today’s fast-paced world we fail to notice the little blessings we have in life and be grateful for them. We give place to all kinds of emotions and feelings, especially the negative ones, and forget about things that can contribute to our happiness.

Gratitude is one of the cornerstones of a joyful life. Some people are born with gratitude while others need to learn how to be grateful and take steps to foster gratitude.

But why is gratitude so vital for a happy life? Is it something you can learn?

Why Being Grateful Makes You A Happier Person?

There is always that one person in everyone’s life that is always happy and joyful. As a rule, that person is also always grateful for everything they have in life.

Have you ever thought that gratitude is the key to a happy life? The answer is an absolute yes. There is even a scientific explanation for it.

Positive psychology researches show that gratitude is closely associated with the feeling of happiness. It makes people feel positive emotions which ultimately leads to less stress and improved physical health.

The Benefits Of Gratitude

Happiness is not the only benefit gratitude has. Here’s what changes you can expect once you build a gratitude habit.

• Improved self-esteem. Grateful people notice the good not only around them but also in them. This leads to improved confidence and self-respect.
• Reduced stress and anxiety. Gratitude helps us better regulate our emotions. Also, when expressing gratitude, our brain releases dopamine and serotonin. These are the chemical messengers that make us feel good.
• Better sleep. Going to sleep with gratitude and positive thoughts helps you sleep better and longer.
• Improved physical health. Less stress and better sleep have a positive impact on your immune system.
• Resilience and emotional health. Being grateful helps you notice positive things even at the hardest times. It helps you recover quickly from difficulties and maintain your emotional health.
• Improved relationships. Being grateful has a big impact on how we interact with family members, friends, partners, co-workers, etc.

5 Ways To Practice Gratitude

Most of us see gratitude as a feeling and emotion. In reality, gratitude is a skill everyone can learn. You can cultivate the skill of noticing the positive elements in life and appreciating them.
Gratitude as a skill should be practiced in the same way as any other skill. It requires everyday effort and consistency.

Here are 5 effective ways to practice gratitude.

1. Practice Mindfulness
Gratitude is often the result of practicing mindfulness. If you are trying to foster gratitude, it is a good idea to start with mindfulness.

Mindfulness practices make us pay attention to everything that surrounds us. They make us notice our thoughts and emotions. The ability to be mindful of the present moment and notice the good around you and in you is essential to the quality of being grateful

2. Create Your Own Gratitude Reminders

Even if you are truly grateful for your life and everything you have, you may fail to express gratitude simply because you don’t have any gratitude reminders.

Gratitude is not only a skill but also a habit. Having gratitude reminders may greatly help you master this habit.

Get creative when trying to come up with your own gratitude reminders. There is nothing wrong with fostering gratitude with the help of some cues. You won’t be needing them eventually. But as someone who is trying to anchor themselves with gratitude, using reminders is an efficient and easy practice.

You can have pictures of people, pets, and things you are grateful for in your room. Gratitude quotes as background photos for your devices work well too. You can decide to express gratitude whenever you see a plane in the sky or a red car. Anything can work as a gratitude reminder.

If you don’t feel like creating your own gratitude reminder, simply download a gratitude reminder app.

3. Start Your Day With Thank Yous

Gratitude is an everyday practice. And what can be better than starting the day with gratitude? Express gratitude first thing in the morning helps start the day on a positive note.

Say ‘thank you’ out loud or write it down in your notebook. Think of all the things in your life you are grateful for.

When saying ‘thank you’ for things you have in life, get specific. Make yourself notice the small things you have in life that you can be grateful for. Each day brings something new to be grateful for. Make sure you notice it.

4. Make Journaling A Habit

Journaling is one of the most efficient gratitude practices. Get a gratitude journal and keep it next to your bed. This way you can practice gratitude first thing in the morning or before going to bed.

If this doesn’t work for you, carry your gratitude journal with you and find a few spare minutes a day to write in your gratitude journal. It doesn’t really matter when you journal. Consistency is what matters most when it comes to gratitude journaling.

You can practice gratitude journaling every day or a few times a week. There may be times when you won’t feel like writing down something in your journal. If this happens, don’t give up. Use gratitude journal prompts to help you keep up your efforts.