Practicing gratitude: A guide

In the midst of sadness and loss, create a ready to fight back mentality so you can soar above it all but not without gratitude.

Happy New month Famz, I hope I am meeting you well. Finally, the year is moving 🤩. And I am sorry to have kept you waiting for this long. There are lots of things on my mind; like thoughts that ain't fully processed yet. Plus, we are back to school. Academic activities are top notch. 

But now that we are here, let's discuss 'gratitude'.

One way or the other, we are all familiar with the word 'GRATITUDE' but what more can we say about it? Especially when we are in doubt or in crisis.

Gratitude is the quality of being thankful; the readiness to show appreciation and to return kindness. On the other hand, if you are not in full harmony with your being, I mean if you consider life to be hard on you and your faith at stake, you might find it very hard to be grateful. And that's because your heart isn't in alignment with your mind. Well, it's normal.

Over the decades, studies have found that people who consciously count their blessings tend to be happier and less depressed. The life hack to this is simple: be grateful for what you have rather than what you don't have. It might seems hard because it needs a conscious effort (to becoming better). But the earlier one knows what to do, the better one snatches oneself away from the grip of self hatred.

Here is the analogy; being ungrateful is mostly the result of unhappiness and hopelessness. When you find it difficult to get a reason to be grateful, this can make one to become the shadow of one's self which results in no peace of mind. Such situation messes with one's mental health. To be at peace with yourself, you have to be grateful for things you have instead of counting your losses. Focus on what makes you happy and being grateful will be easier.

To practice gratitude also means not to indulge in things that will cause you wreck. Place your focus on your 'needs' rather than 'wants'. I know I mentioned that you should do things that make you happy and your wants might be one of such. But what's the essence of landing yourself in much more pain over a temporary feeling? 

Practising Gratitude will:

* Improve your physical health. 

* Improve your psychological health. 

* Enhance empathy. 

* Improve your sleep. 

* Enhance your self esteem. 

* Increase mental strength. 

* Strengthen your bond with people.

This is not a rocket science. The more you are in a state of gratitude, the more you will attract things to be grateful for. By doing this, good memories sticks to your mind so that you enjoy them longer.

A lot of people are going through one thing or the other in recent times and religious faith has been one thing holding few back. Here is to tell you that been hopeful and grateful needs a heart with total sincerity so that your belief will be intact.

Why not pick a paper and pen and write what you are grateful for presently.

What are you thankful for?

As for me, I am grateful :

--For being able to share my thoughts with you.

--To have a roof over my head.

--For having access to internet and technology.

--For having friends like sisters.

--For being at peace with who I am as a person.

There is so much to be grateful for dear friend. Just write anything. Like the popular hymm song goes: Count your blessings and name them one by one... 

Don't forget what you have now was once among the things you prayed for and a grateful heart receives more.

See you soon again,

Teni❤