NIRVANA

In our modern era, we are often focused on where we want to reach in the future, one day from now, or one year from now. We chase the next breakthrough, the promotion, the next contract, the trendiest phone or car, or the perfect holiday. However, we forget to be grateful for what we have now in the present moment.

How about you? What is one thing that you are grateful for today?

What is Gratitude?

Gratitude is feeling thankful for the positive things happening in your life, however small or big. It is about acknowledging them and being content with where you are right now in your life.

There are so many things that we can be grateful for. For instance, we have a roof over our head, food, and water. We can be thankful for our health, for our eyes through which we can see beautiful things, our ears that enable us to listen to the sound of nature, prayers, and music.

Moreover, we can express our gratitude for our loved ones who are alive today and we get to spend quality time with them. We can be thankful that we were able to reach our home safe and sound. We can be grateful that we live in a no war zone. Just like this there are so many things we can be grateful for but we forget to pay attention to because we are living in the future.

How Do We Practice Gratitude?

• Self-Reflection

The first thing is to take a minute or a pause to reflect on what we are grateful for. We can ask ourselves – What is one thing that I am grateful for today? In doing so, we become aware and conscious of the present moment. We come to a realisation that actually there are many things happening in our lives that we can be grateful for.

• Journaling

We can journal and write one thing that we are grateful for. We can write about our health, one positive thing that happened during our day, or simply sharing a smile with a stranger.

• Cherish positive and peaceful moments

Cherish your morning coffee or tea. Take time to appreciate every sip of it. Cherish meaningful conversations, cherish moments spent in nature – the grass,the mountains, or the moon at night. Notice the tiniest little things that make you feel happy and alive.

• Express your gratitude to your loved ones

Tell someone how much they mean in your life and how much you appreciate them. Spend quality time with your loved ones and cherish their presence.

• Scan your body

Scan each part of your body and be grateful for being able to move, walk, and your body’s power to heal itself. Become aware of the tensions in your body and release them.

What Happens When We Practice Gratitude?

• Psychological level

According to research, practicing gratitude stimulates the part of our brain (the amygdala and hippocampus), which boosts neurotransmitters associated with positivity, happiness, and calmness.

Through regular practice, research has shown that practicing gratitude can increase the gray matter in our brain and enhance our emotional regulation.

In my personal experience, when I practice gratitude I feel much lighter and I feel calm and relaxed. My heart and body feels lighter when I practice gratitude.

• Physical Level

Practicing gratitude decreases our stress hormones like cortisol leading to a lower blood pressure, enhanced immunity, and better cardiovascular health.

It has also been observed that practicing gratitude enhances our sleep quality.

• Mental Level

By practicing gratitude, we can decrease the risk of depression and anxiety. In doing so, our mental health is improved as well as our resilience during adversity or challenges.

We worry less about the future and become more resilient to deal with uncertainties. Gratitude prompts us to be present in the NOW.

• Enhanced Relationships

When we practice gratitude, we become aware of the importance and presence of our loved ones in our life. We cherish the moments with them knowing that the present moment is all that counts and matters. Through emotional regulation, we learn to regulate our own emotions and become more patient and understanding.

Trust is enhanced, emotional and social bonds are reinforced leading to healthier relationships.

My Conclusion

Gratitude helps us to appreciate the small positive things that are happening in our life. Through gratitude, we become more present in the NOW and stop living our life in the future.

Gratitude has many benefits through increased brain sensitivity to positivity, stress reduction, enhancement of our immune system, and improvement of our cardiovascular health. Moreover, gratitude improves the quality of our sleep.

Furthermore, gratitude helps us to foster our relationships and leads to healthier relationships.

The more regularly we practice gratitude the better. Pausing one minute during our day to reflect on gratitude can have long-term benefits for our overall health.

Let’s ask ourselves one more time:

What is one thing that we are grateful for today?

Yashna Veera, Life Coach and Yoga & Meditation Practitioner

NIRVANA