Gratitude, what does this word really mean?
Gratitude is when you feel #blessed. It’s an expression, self-understanding, and return of kindness. Who are the people that make you the happiest? Who are the people you can’t live without? What do you do that makes you feel amazing? And why do you feel this way? Gratitude is when you express deep appreciation; it makes you feel damn good, because it’s genuine and intimate.
“Gratitude is when memory is stored in the heart and not in the mind.” -Lionel Hampton (1908-2002), American jazz Musician
We should all start practicing gratitude now, because it’s SO important for our mental health!
1. A simple way to start bringing gratitude into your daily life is to keep a gratitude journal. Aim to write three reasons every night that make you feel thankful. Who and what do you deeply appreciate, and why?
Here’s a link to a cute little Gratitude Journal that you can purchase.
http://www.papersource.com/item/Gratitude-Journal/9780811867207.html
2. Practice presence. Strive to live in the moment and be grateful for what you experience everyday. Be in the now.
3. Love yourself. Appreciate who you are and what you have accomplished.
4. Make time for the people who matter to you. I talk to my mother almost everyday, and my best friend and I made a new year’s goal to talk to each other on the phone at least once a week. Positive relationships are important, so don’t let the craziness of college take over your life.
5. Learn from your teachers. Your teachers include the positive people in your life as well as the people who have hurt you. We gain the most experience and knowledge about ourselves from the people who challenge us. You don’t have to respect what these people may have done to you, but nonetheless, thank, honor, and appreciate them for what they have taught you. Though difficult, we have to be thankful for both the light and the darkness that comes into our lives.