We all want to be that kind of person who just seems to emanate joy wherever they go. We envy their cheerful demeanor and their ability to keep a smile on their face, even in stressful situations. And, to be honest, we waste a lot of time just wishing we were like them. But at Open Eye Wellness, we understand that health and happiness doesn’t happen by accident. Rather, it is the result of intentional actions and consciously formed habits. Consistently giving thanks is one of the greatest ways that you can increase your internal joy. Here are five simple reasons for giving thanks.
1. There is a lot to be grateful for. Yes, we know. This sounds dreadfully cliche. But it is absolutely true! We often get so caught up in our problems that we forget to realize how full of good things our life really is. But if we are looking for the good things, we will always find them. There is always something or someone to be grateful for, if we would only notice.
2. You will feel more at peace. As you begin to focus on the bright spots of life, you will begin to realize how beautiful your life actually is. This is the key to contentment, and contentment is the key to joy. When your mind is trained to give thanks, you will start to feel at peace, no matter your circumstances.
3. You will learn to cope with difficult situations. Let’s face it: Life is not always going to go the way we want it to go. But if we have an already formed habit of gratefulness, we will be able to find light even in the middle of tough times. And, believe us, that helps a lot.
4. People will enjoy being around you. Nobody wants to hang out with a person who complains all the time. People will gravitate to you far more if you are constantly giving thanks. They may not even consciously realize why they find you so fun to hang out with, but they will definitely know that they want to be friend.
5. You will encourage those around you. The best part about being a joyful person is that you get to share the joy with people around you. You may never know how much your gratefulness may brighten someone else’s day. One word of thanks could even be influential in saving a person’s life. When you yourself have learned the habit of gratefulness, you can give a helping hand to the people around you.
Gratefulness is an extremely important part of keeping our minds healthy and invigorated. But gratefulness, by it’s very nature, cannot just stay in our minds. It has to be heard from our mouths and show in our attitudes. Many of us want to be grateful people, but we simply do not know how to start. Like any habit, gratefulness requires consistency. Here are a few simple tips to help you in becoming a beautiful, grateful person.
1. Write down what you are grateful for. Not only will keeping a list make you stop and actually think about things you are grateful for, it will provide you with something encouraging to read through when you are feeling down. Two birds with one stone!
2. Make a point to thank specific people for specific things. Gratefulness needs to have an object. Make sure you direct your thankfulness to specific people, and mention specific words or actions that you are grateful for.
3. Counter complaints with thanks. There will come times when you need to make a complaint or give a reprimand, especially if you have a leadership position. When you have to do this, soften your message by expressing thanks for something positive.
Making a habit of gratefulness is going to take some thought, and even hard work. But that is the true path to joy.