World Gratitude Day, celebrated annually on September 21, aims to remind us of the importance of expressing gestures of thanks and appreciation. You! takes a look...
gratitude
We live in a world obsessed with ‘grasping’ or ‘attachment’- e.g., needing constant gratification, overconsumption and overexpansion. Contrary to this, gratitude helps to slow us down, it focuses us on what really matters, and helps us to enjoy the little things in life.
Gratitude is a thankful appreciation for what an individual receives, whether tangible or intangible. With gratitude, people acknowledge the goodness in their lives. Even the smallest moments, such as a brief chat with a friend, a kind gesture from a stranger, a cool breeze on a hot day, or a peaceful stroll in nature, are things that you can be thankful for.
Gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships. Practicing thankfulness improves sleep, lowers stress levels, and boosts the immune system. Gratitude also reduces symptoms of depression and improves self-esteem.
Cultivating gratitude doesn’t cost any money and it certainly doesn’t take much time, but the benefits are enormous. Read on...
Reduces depression: According to a research report, gratitude seems to reduce depression symptoms. People with a grateful mindset report higher satisfaction with life, strong social relationships and more self-esteem than those who don’t practice gratitude.
Relieves stress: Stress triggers a fight-or-flight response in your nervous system - your heart beats faster, muscles contract and adrenaline pumps. But gratitude can help calm the nervous system. Taking a moment to be thankful causes physiological changes in your body that initiate the parasympathetic nervous system - the part of your nervous system that helps you rest and digest.
Combats anxiety: Gratitude can be a coping tool for anxiety. Regularly practicing gratitude combats negative thinking patterns by keeping thoughts focused on the present. If you find yourself focusing on negative thoughts about the past or future, challenge yourself to find something you are grateful for now. It will break the negative thought process and return you to the present.
Supports heart health: Several studies show that a grateful mindset positively affects biomarkers associated with the risk for heart disease. Gratitude and the response help bring down your blood pressure, heart rate and breathing to help with overall relaxation.
Having grateful thoughts also helps your heart by slowing and regulating your breathing to synchronise with your heartbeat.
Improves sleep: Thinking positive thoughts before falling asleep promotes better sleep. Also, writing in a gratitude journal improves sleep. Spend just 15 minutes jotting down a few grateful sentiments (count your blessings) before bed, and you may sleep better and longer.
World Gratitude Day, celebrated annually on September 21st by the United Nations, is a global invitation to embrace gratitude as a catalyst for personal happiness and mental well-being. It serves as a poignant reminder to pause, reflect, and appreciate the blessings in our lives, fostering humility and a positive mindset.
The idea to celebrate World Gratitude Day came first in 1965 during a Thanksgiving dinner in the meditation room of the United Nations building. Sri Chinmoy, an Indian spiritual leader and meditation teacher, suggested a day of gratitude that the whole world could celebrate together. With that, each member present decided to hold a gratitude gathering each year in their country on September 21. Then, in 1977 a group that ran the meditation room requested a resolution that would give recognition for World Gratitude Day. This happened at the New York Headquarters during a special ceremony that honoured Sri Chinmoy for his work. Ever since then, World Gratitude Day has been observed annually worldwide.
* Start a gratitude journal. Write a list of things you’re thankful for. Post the list to Facebook or write it up as a blog post. When sharing your list on social media, be sure to use #WorldGratitudeDay.
* Share your gratitude with thoughtful online Thank You Cards and Employee Appreciation e-Cards! Browse a wide range of beautiful designs, customise the message inside the card, include a gift card, and add a heartfelt video message for an extra personal touch. When you’re done, send your card from your phone or any digital device.
* Celebrate Gratitude Day with your friends or family. Have a fun get together complete with yummy food and dessert. Be sure to take a moment at the beginning of the party to let your family or friends know how much they’re valued and appreciated. They will be happy to know that.
* Whether you want to thank a helpful neighbour, colleague or friend, tokens of appreciation can go a long way. Some of the ideas include: Succulent plants are perfect gifts for an employee’s desk or a loved one’s home; Baked goods made from scratch or from a favourite bakery are big crowd-pleasers; Gift cards are always a sure bet. Surprise your friend by giving her a gift card of her favourite brand.
World Gratitude Day is the perfect day to stop, take a breath, and think about all the things that make you happy and that you are thankful for in your life. This could be your family and friends, your pet, the fact that you have food in the cupboard and a roof over your head, your good health, and even the beautiful nature that is around you.
