In a world where social media is such a prevalent part of our lives, it can be hard not to compare ourselves to others. To long for the things we don’t have instead of focusing our energy on the things we do have.
Comparison is the thief of joy. It can be easy to become disillusioned by the fact that most of us work hard just to pay our bills.
But as cliché, as it may sound, can money really buy happiness?
What if there was something that could increase your overall happiness and only take 5 minutes a day?
Often, we search for happiness in external things when in fact we know that happiness begins within ourselves.
There are a plethora of benefits when practising gratitude
You attract more of the good
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When you begin to practice gratitude, it shifts your focus. What we focus on is what we attract more of. If you try to see everything in a positive light, even when problems come about, this new way of thinking will literally shift your focus and how you perceive the world around you.
It improves the quality of your life
The shift in your focus and the general appreciation of the things you have can quite literally improve your life. A sense of happiness and gratitude can benefit each part of your mind, body and soul. Often people think this comes from success or that successful people will find it easier to be grateful as they have more, but this is not the case. The very heart of gratitude begins when you can appreciate and feel grateful for the things you have in life, no matter what they are.
Gratitude gives you peace of mind
There is an inner sense of calm that develops when you are grateful for the things you have in your life. It gives you peace of mind that just doesn’t exist in the mind of a person with an expectation of things. You can always tell which successful people have worked had to get where they are. They know the other side of life and are grateful for what they have. There is a strong empathetic nature instilled in the successful people who had to endure a lot of failure before succeeding.
Gratitude equals happiness
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It really is that easy and studies prove it. Research shows that practising gratitude directly impacts a person’s happiness. When we feel grateful about the things in our lives it is only natural to feel happier.
When you focus on the things you have rather than the things you don’t, you train your brain to think this way about everything. This isn’t always easy to do but the most important step is the beginning. Get into the habit of listing three things you are grateful for every morning and you will never look back.
