Now that I’ve caught your attention with the cutest picture of a cat looking grateful, let me tell you about how to change your attitude to one of gratitude!
I’m thinking back on last Tuesday when I was walking along Dean Keeton and 24th street. I was on my way to volunteer in the research lab I’m very lucky to be a part of. We were handling rats that day, which basically meant I got to pet albino lab rats for a couple minutes each. The sun was out, my new shoes were shining, and I had a belly full of pizza. I was feelin’ myself.
As I looked around, I was absolutely astounded by the fact that I get to attend the best school in the world. How the hell did I get here? It seems like just yesterday, I was sitting in my AP Lit class and reading Heart of Darkness. I was having a moment of gratitude.
In my experience so far, I think we often forget to be grateful for our privilege. As women at The University of Texas, we are extremely blessed with access to a world-class education and limitless opportunity. But how often do we take the time to take it all in and realize this truth?
We have to deal with the late-night study sessions, feel immense pressure to perform, and are faced with real-life issues. It can be so easy to forget that most people don’t have the privilege to stress about the same things. By not practicing gratitude, we’re letting life pass us by.
Gratitude can have phenomenal effects, for you and those around you. It’s uncomplicated and satisfying. I’m not just plugging gratitude here; there are actual research studies that have highlighted the many benefits of gratitude, some of which are pretty surprising! It can do more than just brighten your day: there are long-term implications for practicing gratitude regularly.
So how does one become more grateful? It’s actually pretty simple. What exactly is gratitude? It’s the quality of being thankful with readiness to show appreciation for or to return kindness. Gratitude comes more easily to some than others, but anyone can easily make it one of their strengths.
One of the first things you can do is pretty effortless: say thank you to those who deserve it and truly mean it. Studies show that being grateful can open doors to new relationships, improve your mood, and even raise your self-esteem.
A straightforward way to practice regularly is to keep a gratitude journal. Grab a cute little notebook and a pen, then write a couple of things that make you happy you each day! It’s really easy, so you’ll be surprised when you find yourself feeling more appreciative and less grumpy about the little things that bother you.
Writing in general can help you be more grateful because it gives you a moment to reflect. A more poignant way you can put your journaling skills to use is by writing a gratitude letter. This letter should be addressed to someone who has impacted you positively and that you haven’t thanked properly. It’ll bring up wonderful feelings for you while you’re recounting an experience and will surely make the receiver smile (or cry tears of joy in some cases).
I never would have guessed this but there are proven physical benefits of practicing gratitude as well! People who are grateful generally work out more and have fewer aches and pains. Another study looked at participants that spent 15 minutes writing down what they were grateful for before bed. Surprisingly, these participants actually slept better and longer!
After practicing being more grateful for your life, you’ll probably realize that you’re more mentally resilient and generally happier. That’s because gratitude is a simple way to increase your overall optimism and improve your psychological health. It provides a change in perspective that’ll make you realize how fortunate you are and how purposeful your life is.
Personally, I struggle with perfectionism and anxiety. I can attest to y’all that gratitude has made me a lot calmer and less concerned with the little details of life that don’t matter. Being grateful has made me a better, stronger, and happier person and I love it.
Why don’t you try it out?
Peace & love,
Azza