The Positive Benefits of Practising Gratitude

“Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.” — Eckhart Tolle

Practising gratitude has seen a surge in popularity over the last few years. It makes sense that being grateful for what we have, rather than concentrating on the negative, is better for our mental health, but it’s not always easy.

Being stuck in a job you hate, arguing with your partner or dealing with loss and grief can make it hard to feel grateful. Finding a glimmer of hope when things feel bleak and not knowing which way to turn can be difficult.

However, research shows that tapping into gratitude can help reduce stress and anxiety, boost our mood and increase positive emotions. It can also make us more resilient when dealing with life’s curveballs.

That doesn’t mean you should try to push away the difficult emotions you’re experiencing. Acknowledge the grief, sit with the loss and feel whatever you need to. This is true for any challenging situation; connect to whatever is going on inside.

Attempting to replace these emotions with positive ones would be toxic positivity, and that’s not what gratitude is about.