Why the Habit of Gratitude is Worth Building
Embracing a sense of gratitude can improve both your mental and physical health. As is the case with adopting a number of positive outlooks, when we try to improve our mental health, , it tends to positively influence other aspects of our lives. We are significantly less likely to participate in risky behaviors or pick up bad habits, which helps us live longer, happier lives.
So what is gratitude and how do you incorporate it into your life? Harnessing the power of gratitude
According to the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, gratitude is “a state of mind that arises when you affirm a good thing in your life that comes from outside yourself, or when you notice and relish little pleasures.” In the vast majority of psychological research, gratitude is conceptualized as both an emotional or mental state, and as a trait. Essentially, there are times we can feel a sense of gratitude in response to something – someone buys you some flowers or writes you a thoughtful note, for instance. But gratitude can also be a trait, something some of us are more prone to feeling on a daily basis.
But traits can be learned, and emotional states created through specific activities. If you’re wanting to increase your own ability to feel gratitude on a daily basis, try the following: