Creating a Gratitude Attitude
We are certainly finishing 2019 on a high. After some consideration and planning, we kicked off a free 21 days of gratitude program to help people reap the benefits of practicing the simple process of focusing on the good rather than the bad, what we have rather than what we don’t and expressing gratitude to others.
With a fully booked calendar at this time of year focused on our corporate and coaching client commitments, It certainly stretched us to get the program set up and running. We pushed through and the results were amazing!
We learnt so much over the 21 days (yes, practicing gratitude, but we have that already hard-wired) more in regards to running the program, playing across our socials, hearing feedback during the program and sharing insights in our daily newsletters for those who signed up.
The feedback we received from participants on the program and others that follow us on socials was amazing, we had reports of…
Feeling more positive and optimistic
Feeling lighter – less heaviness in the chest and overall happier
It makes me feel better - I need to keep doing this gratitude thing!
People loved expressing gratitude to others and found the process very rewarding
We heard that a few participants implemented a program at their organisation – finishing off the year with a healthy little competition in gratitude
The research pulled together by Positive Psychology, shows many benefits of practicing gratitude, our top three favourites are:
Enhanced self-love, empathy and positive thinking
Releases toxic emotions, reducing anxiety and depression
Aids in stress regulation, building greater emotional resilience
From a Neuroscience point of view, practicing gratitude helps enhance our mood and regulate our emotions by activating dopamine and serotonin in our brain. This helps build greater emotional resilience in stressful situations by reducing the stress hormone called cortisol. Our program encouraged participants to practice daily to strengthen the neural pathways and create a new habit of positivity.
Remember, we are human and still have bad days. However, if you hardwire this amazing habit of practicing gratitude you will find that even in tough times you are able to focus on what you do have and take lessons from the hard situation you may be facing. It enables you to make a shift in your thinking and put some perspective on the situation.
Smile and finish this sentence: Today I am so happy and grateful for….