Why gratitude matters - and how to practice it
Gratitude = the real deal.
And it is entirely related to our overall health and wellness. First of all, because feelings and expressions of gratitude are consistently shown to be correlated with greater health and happiness. And who doesn’t want that?! But also because when we make gratitude part of our everyday journey, we gain a perspective that makes it easier to trust the process as we work towards our health and fitness goals (i.e., we’re less likely to give up).
As humans, we’re conditioned to focus on the gaps, what we don’t have, what we could be… But we can be focused on achieving great success AND be grateful for what we have and where we are. Practicing gratitude doesn’t mean that you give up on your goals. One of the best things I ever heard regarding this is, “It is possible to hold the belief that ‘I am doing the best I can in this moment,’ and at the same time, ‘I can and will do better.’” Both of these beliefs can be held at the same time.
And gratitude can be a self-fulfilling prophecy. There’s research that shows that when people focus more on what they’re grateful for, rather than what’s irritating or displeasing, they end up feeling more gratitude for their current state, and more optimism about the future. So just like following your nutrition plan or lifting at the gym, it gets better with practice!
Here are a few ways to start implementing gratitude into your daily routine today:
Practice gratitude journaling.
We love The Five Minute Journal, but you can also just use a pen and paper, a Google doc, or anything! Thinking about what we’re grateful for on a daily basis helps us move past just the ‘regular’ things - family, friends, house, job - and start looking for other things to be grateful for (e.g., the friendly cashier at the store, the beautiful weather). Life’s simple joys.
Recite daily affirmations.
Every day, start by choosing an “I am….” statement that reflects a belief you want to hold about yourself. I am strong. I am worthy. I am capable of handling what life throws at me today. For many of us, reflection on our own value helps us be grateful for who we are, what we have, and the people and resources that surround us.
Go for depth (as opposed to just breadth).
Rather than a long list of things we’re grateful for at a surface level, focusing on one particular thing at a time allows us to go super deep and get really detailed on what specifically about that thing we are grateful for. And if, right now, it feels impossible to be grateful for your present circumstance? For example: maybe you’re not at all happy with what you see in the mirror, and can’t imagine being grateful for your body just yet?We hear a lot about going from negative to positive; and for most of us, that can’t happen overnight. But here’s some good news: it turns out that even going from negative to neutral can make a big difference. So while you may not think it’s realistic to go from "OMG, I hate my body" to "Wow I’m a sexy goddess!" right away, working towards a simple "This is what I look like today” - a statement, a fact - is a meaningful step forward in the right direction. Maybe you start there.
Progress, not perfection. :) Looking for a nutrition coach that takes a holistic approach to wellness? You’re in the right place!
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