Gratitude – Day 5

Welcome and Namaste 🙂 

Today's topic is Gratitude. This Gratitude Meditation is meant to lead you into a state of FEELING gratitude deeply in your body.

What is Gratitude Meditation?

Gratitude meditation is a type of meditation that focuses on expressing gratitude for the things in your life.

Did you know that gratitude has many physical benefits, along with social and mental health benefits? Here are a few... 

Gratitude improves physical health. Grateful people experience fewer aches and pains in their bodies and report feeling healthier, according to a study published in Personality and Individual Differences. Other studies show that, grateful people are also more likely to take care of their health. They exercise more often and are more likely to attend regular check-ups, which is likely to contribute to further longevity.

Grateful people get better and deeper sleep. Writing in a gratitude journal improves sleep, according to a study published in Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being. Spend just 5 minutes jotting down a few grateful sentiments before bed, and you can improve the quality of your sleep over time! 

Gratitude improves psychological health. Gratitude reduces a multitude of difficult emotions, from jealousy and resentment to frustration and regret. Robert Emmons, a leading gratitude researcher, has conducted multiple studies on the link between gratitude and well-being. His research confirms that gratitude effectively increases wellbeing and reduces depression. ​

Gratitude increases mental strength. For years, research has shown gratitude not only reduces stress, but it also plays a major role in overcoming trauma. A study published in Behavior Research and Therapy found that Vietnam War veterans with higher levels of gratitude experienced lower rates of PTSD. Another study found that gratitude was a major contributor to resilience following the attacks on the World Trade Centre on September 11.

Recognizing all that you have to be thankful for —even during the worst times—fosters resilience.

While some people might think of meditation along the lines of sitting in a dark room and clearing your mind, gratitude meditation can be practiced in many different settings.

For example, one might practice gratitude meditation while they wait for their morning tea, a few moments in the bath, or walking outside in nature. The options for mindfulness and noticing or cultivating gratitude are endless!

“Buddhist monks begin each day with a chant of gratitude for the blessings of their life. Native American elders begin each ceremony with grateful prayers to mother earth and father sky, to the four directions, to the animal, plant, and mineral brothers and sisters who share our earth and support our life. In Tibet, the monks and nuns even offer prayers of gratitude for the suffering they have been given” - Jack Kornfield

I hope that you find today's exploration helpful in your meditation journey.

Please let me know in the comments below how this practice made you feel.

I'd love for you to let me know if you've heard of the negativity bias in the brain before? 

You might write a list of 5 things you are grateful for today! I'd love to hear what you are grateful for.

Scroll down to join in with your reflection in the comments section! 

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