“If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, ‘thank you,’ that would suffice.”
– Meister Eckhart
Gratitude turns our attention to what we do have instead of what we don’t. Here are 3 simple things to do that have proved to make us happier, not hickier.
- Take just a few minutes each day to jot down 3 things that make you thankful, from the food in your cupboard, to the clean water coming from your tap or your right to vote.
- Write a gratitude letter to someone in your life who you haven’t properly thanked. It could be to a spouse or a neighbor; think about it, someone will come to mind.
- Thank yourself each day for something that you’ve done, it’s important to recognize your accomplishments.
Studies show that after a few weeks, people who follow this routine feel better about themselves, have more energy, feel more supported and more alert. Feeling thankful even brings physical changes; people sleep better, exercise more and gain a general contentment that may counteract stress and contribute to overall health.
According to Cicero “Gratitude is not only the greatest of the virtues but the parent of all others.”