11-24-20

by New Earth
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Let’s Spread Gratitude Together

Life is busy and it tends to speed up throughout the holiday season. Especially this year as we factor in an election paired with a pandemic. With that, it’s easy to get caught up in the busyness and chaos and find ourselves looking and planning for next week or even next year rather than being present and enjoying the current moment. 

Giving thanks is what this season calls for, but that doesn’t mean it’s always easy. 

It can be a challenge to step into a thankful mindset. The fact of the matter is, our ability to practice gratitude is just like muscle memory when it comes to working out. The more you exercise the muscle, the stronger it will become. The same holds true for gratitude, the more you practice gratitude, the easier it will become. 

So, why not take this opportunity to make gratitude a daily practice? All it takes is a simple process and three minutes a day!

  1. Acknowledge the negative. Begin by looking within and recognizing negative thoughts that arise. Allow yourself to feel negative emotions but do not dwell in that place for long. Rather, refocus on gratitude to bring your mental state to a positive place.
  2. Recall the positive. Take time to recall and focus on the positives in your life. This could be as simple as being grateful for a roof over your head, food on your plate and a device to read this article on. 
  3. Journal your thoughts. During this time, begin keeping a gratitude journal of all the positives that come to mind. This journal will allow you to conceptualize and understand the emotions you feel in a concrete way. Journal the people, things, and gifts you are thankful for. 
  4. Spend time in meditation. Spend time each day in meditation, being mindful of the things you are grateful for.

Three minutes and four steps a day can lead to several worthwhile benefits including joy, optimism, and more. Let’s explore a few. 

  • Joy. Studies have shown that expressing gratitude triggers the release of our brains’ “feel-good” substances like dopamine and serotonin. These chemicals are shown to improve mood, sleep, and energy. 
  • Optimism. Expressing gratitude helps to wash away negativity. When we consistently practice gratitude, we are focusing our mental energy on optimistic outlooks. This helps to re-train our brains to think positively which leads to brighter futures and healthier outcomes.
  • Healthy Relationships. When we practice gratitude towards our friends and family, we strengthen relationships. This helps you build a healthy network of support to provide motivation and help when needed.
  • It’s Contagious. When showing gratitude towards others, we make them feel happier and healthier. They are then inspired to pass on that wonderful feeling to others. Giving thanks can truly be world-changing.

We Are Grateful for You!

We truly value each and every one of you. It is our pleasure and indeed our privilege to interact with wonderful human beings such as you. So from the bottom of our hearts, we humbly give thanks for the opportunity to serve you for many years to come.