Intentional Gratitude Will
Change Your Life
Look for Opportunities to be Thankful
Intentional gratitude is searching and acknowledging a positive person, life experience or kind gesture each day. Do you look for opportunities to be thankful? Or do you rush through life unaware, pressured and unhappy? The action of being grateful, expressing your thanks can be a powerful tool for living a meaningful life. Studies show that we deliberately pursue an appreciation for the goodness in our lives, the result is an increase in our well-being and happiness. That my friend – is called intentional gratitude.
Science Supports the Happiness Factor
Scientific studies demonstrate that fear and negativity increase cortisol. This “fight or flight” hormone narrows your perspective because you perceive danger in your life. Developing a positive mindset increases the mood neurotransmitters (serotonin and norepinephrine), in your body.
Instead of dwelling on the lack of “things or other people’s successes,” focus on the goodness of your life, and you physically retrain your brain to look for abundance! Be aware. Open your mind to the possibilities in front of you. A positive mindset also encourages people to “broaden and build” life skills. Begin to actively seek new opportunities and utilize your small successes to achieve a more abundant and meaningful life.
Intentional gratitude can set the tone for the rest of the day. Some people like to begin their day with meditation or by murmuring words of gratefulness. Your thoughts direct your efforts, and a positive mental attitude often results in more beneficial outcomes for people at work or home, as the day unfolds.
Setting Intentions
You may prefer to reflect the best moments of your day in the evening. Write down your thoughts. Being thankful for all the people in our daily life helps us to set intentions in the future. Learn to flip frustrations or challenges to create new opportunities for choosing what matters in the long run.
Maintain Your Positive Vibes
As Thanksgiving and Christmas approach, many people focus on gift-giving, thankfulness, and an abundant life during this time. Try to keep that sense of choosing happiness and caring when the fine china is put up and the days grow long during the winter. Maintain an attitude of gratitude throughout the year, and you can relieve stress while generating a more optimistic view. Like a small pebble thrown into a pond, the ripples of goodwill you send out to others have a significant impact on many people, some of whom you may never meet!
Try it!
