What is the first thought that come to your mind when you read or hear the word gratitude? Phrases like ‘less is more‘, ‘good vibes only‘ or ‘whatever happens, happens for good so be thankful‘? So is gratitude another fancy word to turn away from your true emotions because – “other people have lot worse, so be thankful for what life has offered you”? Or is it an excuse to not trying to take a leap forward because you are too busy “counting your blessings”? What exactly is gratitude?

Gratitude is NOT toxic positivity

Gratitude is a humble emotion of thanking life for what it offers. But life doesn’t always brings you happiness. There are times when you are going through a bad phase. Gratitude doesn’t encourage you to look for positivity in such times. Or look for reasons how difficult times can make you a stronger person. Being thankful doesn’t mean to be ignorant towards your feelings. It’s absolutely okay to be sad.

Gratitude IS embracing little things in life

Gratitude brings a feeling of gratefulness towards simple and little things in life. Smell of morning coffee, sight of sunset while driving back from office, lyrics of a song that made you nostalgic, there are countless moments filled in any regular day. Gratitude is a simple act of noticing them.

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Gratitude is NOT an excuse of not trying

Being contended with what you have is basically to understand the worth of your possessions, not by their price tag but with the value they hold in your life. It doesn’t mean that you should not try to achieve more. Yes, you can be very much thankful for the blessed life you currently have, and at the same time have aspiration to rise further or even to have a better life!! Both of these emotions can and should coexist.

Gratitude IS power of resilience

Practicing gratitude helps you not only to recognise your own strengths but also to have a positive look at the surrounding. This brings upon a realisation that you are not alone. This confidence can shift your focus from the problem to finding solutions. A mere awareness of empathy and compassion around, can charge you up and make you bounce back.

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Gratitude is NOT false optimism

Gratitude is an act of appreciating common and uncommon things in life, false optimism on the other hand is an illusion of positivity. A daily practice of gratitude brings your awareness to the beauty around but it doesn’t invalidate your fears and failures. When you open your eyes to look at the brighter side you are just reminding yourself that there is hope, and you still have strength  to deal with the adversities. Whatever happens doesn’t always happens for good, but a grateful heart acknowledges that life has much more to offer, beyond this unpleasant experience.

Gratitude IS art of self love

Practicing gratitude inspires you to honour yourself, with all your qualities as well as limitations. You thank yourself for acquiring all your skills and for all your achievements, while embracing all your imperfections. It’s a constant reminder of the reasons that makes you a loveable, dependable and worthy person.

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Gratitude is NOT faking smile

Gratitude is not a Midas touch. Forcing yourself to smile in pain is not gratefulness, neither is putting up a brave face and pretending everything is fine. There are times when you are filled with sadness and misery. Gratitude helps you to look at the bigger picture in such times. This altered perspective brings clarity in your thoughts and can even give you a genuine reason to smile.

Gratitude IS tryst with happy hormones

Gratitude like any other positive emotion releases happy hormones in brain. These hormones; reduce anxiety (serotonin), regulate mood (dopamine), release stress (endorphin) and brings in feeling of warmth and love (oxytocin). Thus by expressing gratitude you are essentially rewarding yourself, that’s why it’s a major element of self-care.

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Gratitude isn’t a blind faith in good luck but a mindful realisation of goodness around.

Simple guide to practice gratitude

• list out things you would never want to trade and keep them where you can see them daily

• smile

• tell your loved ones why you love them and be specific

• call an old friend or someone from family

• give compliments and note down the compliments you receive

• keep a gratitude journal

- and thank every little thing in life that you take for granted -