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Make You Smile Back is pleased to present this article concerning how to master the art of gratitude with 15 creative and innovative tips.
Gratitude is widely known as a thankful appreciation for what an individual receives from another individual. But gratitude goes beyond the enlightenment of appreciation to God and/or a higher being. It can be life-changing.
If you would like to find out what gratitude is, why the practice of gratitude is important and the benefits of gratitude, this post is for you. We shall also discuss 15 best gratitude activities along with examples and the best ways to practice gratitude. By the end of this article, you will be well equipped to become a better and happier person.
If we expand further upon Densel Washington’s amazing insights from the above YouTube Video, we must realize the power of thank you is limitless. In fact, the more we find things to be thankful about, great and particularly small then the more growth and well-being floods into our lives.
The ‘poor me’ consciousness simply creates a culture of pessimism and negativity, a culture that overshadows our positive state of being. Whereas the vast vocabulary and the colorful language of thank you creates positivity and a real appreciation of things that are so easily overlooked. Thank you helps us to savor life and find beauty and truth, it helps us discover our true nature, abilities and talents.
Thank you stokes the fire of creativity and introduces us to higher levels of awareness and consciousness. The thank-you process motivates us to act because the appreciation that it produces gives us real power. It is a power that inspires, a power that rejoices more and complains less, a power that realizes our lives are dictated most of all by what thoughts we generate in our minds.
The Latin word known as ‘gratia’ is where the word gratitude originated. ‘Gratia’ means grace, graciousness, or gratefulness. Gratitude is also associated with sincere appreciation from receiving a kind gesture from someone.
When you have gratitude in your life, you begin to realize all the goodness in your life and the goodness of other people in turn. As a result, gratitude also helps people connect to something larger than themselves as individuals — whether to other people, nature, or a higher power.
Greater happiness within oneself is also associated with gratitude as well as having a healthy dose of well-being.
Everyone wants to experience more happiness and emotional well-being. In today’s world, it has received more popularity in both psychological research and scientific studies in the nature and practice of gratitude.
Researchers like Martin Seligman, Robert Emmons, and Michael McCullough have come up with some impressive insights which should be highly noted. Their findings include:
A study from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) examined blood flow in various brain regions while subjects summoned up feelings of gratitude. Higher levels of activity in the hypothalamus were found in subjects who showed more gratitude overall.
Furthermore, these higher levels of activity include an array of essential bodily functions, including eating, drinking and sleeping. It also has a huge influence on your metabolism and stress levels.
Feelings of gratitude directly activated brain regions are also associated with the neuro-transmitter dopamine, the ‘feel-good’ chemical released when emotions of happiness are experienced.
Want to start being a better and happier person? Let’s get proactive and get inspired in mastering the art of gratitude with these 15 tips!
Be sure to read this blog post entitled,
https://madeyousmileback.com/the-awesome-healing-power-of-journaling/
‘The Awesome Healing Power of Journaling’
Research recently conducted at the University of California-Davis found gratitude gives the person expressing it the power to heal, to be energized, and to change lives.
As a result, the Greater Good Science Center, entered in a collaboration with Robert Emmons of the University of California-Davis and launched a project together.
It is known as ‘Expanding the Science and Practice of Gratitude’. For more information concerning their project and findings, please check out this link.
“Say thank you in advance for what’s already yours.”
Denzel Washington
Emmy Award Winner & Motivational Speaker
In conclusion, Melody Beattie says it best: “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, and confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.”
Made You Smile Back presented to you the definition of what gratitude truly is, why the practice of gratitude is so important, and described the many benefits that gratitude provides.
15 Tips were shared on how to ‘master the art of gratitude‘ with thought-provoking activities for both children and adults alike.
We first must realize the power of thank you or the practice of mastering the art of gratitude is limitless. In fact, the more we find things to be thankful about, great and particularly small, then the more growth and well-being floods into our lives. In fact, the more we practice the art of gratitude, we shall attract even more goodness into our lives.
Gratitude can be truly life-changing. Gratitude acknowledges the ‘goodness in our life’. It brings positive emotions. It improves your health and your ability to deal with adversity and more importantly, it builds strong relationships.
Having a ‘tone in your voice’ that’s thoughtful and deliberate, you can say:
* I would like to express my gratitude to (NAME), for all the hard work you have done on this project. Thank you.
* Words cannot express how much you mean to me.
* I am more grateful to you than you’ll ever know.
* I’m eternally grateful…
* You have my deepest thanks.
* I’ll never forget your support and kindness.
Research reveals gratitude can have these several benefits:
* Gratitude enhances empathy & reduces negative emotions
* Gratitude improves our quality of sleep
* Gratitude makes people like us more
* Gratitude improves physical and mental health*
* Gratitude improves self-esteem
* Gratitude strengthens our emotion
* Gratitude leads to a positive attitude
* Gratitude enables us to be much happier in life
Why It Works…
Keeping a gratitude journal helps you learn more about yourself and become more self-aware. A gratitude journal forces us to pay attention to the good things in life we might otherwise take for granted. Your gratitude journal is a safe zone for your eyes only, so you can write anything you feel without judgment. Perhaps the most important benefit of them all is that they are simply therapeutic for our well-being and overall mental health.
For additional motivation, I leave you with this incredible YouTube speech from none other than Denzel Washington. I promise you, when you have finished watching, you will be so excited to practice an act of kindness or some other gesture of gratitude today!
Much appreciation to Poovanesh Pather for her assistance in Keyword Research in preparing for this post. For more information, please check out this link.
Did this post make you smile back? If so, please share this with your social media friends and comment below!
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Great piece of work. I was really thinking about ways to think about my gratitude practices. This will really help. Thank you for writing this post.
I love your post. I always believe gratitude makes you see the good in every situation even the bad ones. Thereby helping your mental health and helping you move forward.
Olunfunke, thank you so much for your kind and positive comments about my blog on ‘Mastering the Art of Gratitude’. Many blessings.
This was a very detailed post and included many wonderful suggestions. I do collect positive quotes and have saved many of yours before reading your post, however, you had many creative suggestions. Seeing all of them together makes it worthwhile to visit again and again. Thank you!
Joyce, thank you so much for your comments. I’m thrilled you like this post concerning mastering the art if gratitude.
Great work! Love these ideas- definitely need to implement in the new year!
Kristin, thanks for your kind comments. I hope you have a great 2020!
For me, making a list of what I am grateful for helps me better connect to God…. ?
Andrea, yes I so agree. Gratitude ultimately ends with praising God.
I never fail to acknowledge all that I am grateful for .. generally on a daily basis.. We have a happiness jar .. but we call it the JOY jar
Linda, thanks for your comments. I love the concept of the ‘Joy’ jar!
a gratitude jar is a great idea, and practising gratitude allows you to grow emotionally. It reminds you daily to appreciate everything
Nina, thank you so much for your kind comments. Yes, I love using the ‘gratitude jar’. This year I’m trying to be mindful and starting a daily journal of gratitude. Many blessings to you.
This is a great article! A lot of people talk about ‘gratitude’ in passing without really explaining what they’re referring to – leaves you wondering if they even know what they’re talking about or just using the latest ‘buzz word’. This breaks everything down in an easy to understand and easy to act upon way!
Very nice piece of writing. And yes, we all need to be grateful of our blessings!
JoJo, being grateful definitely provides blessings.
I love the idea of the gratitude jar! I like reminiscing back my memories so this idea really excited me. Thanks for sharing other great tips as well! 🙂
Herah, yes the gratitude jar was one of my favorites too as well as gratitude written on the window panes!
Thank you. I posted this to my Pinterest gratitude board as I am always looking for posts like this for it.
I love these ideas! I can’t wait to start implementing a few 🙂
Thanks for this reminder. I’ve been trying to remind myself to practice gratitude everyday, did my gratitude Journal for some time but have been off track. It’s to time to start again 🙂 Great read!
Sush, thanks so much for your comments. I went out and bought a gratitude journal and am enjoying writing in it!
Aww!! this is SO important!! i try to make a daily reminder about being grateful and focus on the amazing things that surround me on a daily basis. I love appreciating the small things, even the rain, or the sun, or a smile or greet from someone in the street. It just changes my day when I wake up and smile and I feel thankful for my pillows and my blanket. Really great advice for a great way of living.
Barbara, this was so refreshing to read. Ya know, I never thought about how wonderful my pillows and blanket were! I need to express gratitude for this tomorrow morning and beyond! lol
Such a good read. Thanks for sharing some reminders ♥️ ♥️ By any chance, are you interested in doing collabs? xx
Tiffany, thank you for your kind comment. Of course, I would love to do a collaboration. Please email me at [email protected] with your website link and what you had in mind. Blessings!
You can check out the offers in our Collaboration section at Phlanx! https://phlanx.com/collaborations You can also check us out at IG: @phlanxglobal
I love this! I’ve been practicing gratitude for a few years now and it really helps shift your mindset. I even write in a journal in the mornings when I can remember and it shifts the entire day. It’s so easy to get caught up in the negative and being grateful really brings things into perspective. Thank you for sharing ♥️
Elisha, Thank you for your comments. Writing in a journal is so effective when done consistently! Have a great day!
Some great tips I can definitely use this from time to time. A good reminder.
Candice, thanks for sharing.
Gratitude is one of those things I am constantly trying to work on. Although I’m always grateful for things I rarely say them or think them out loud. These are some really great tips and some different ideas of how to sprinkle a bit of gratitude throat your day. Thanks so much!
Sasha, thanks for your great comments. Gratitude is one of those gifts which don’t cost a penny but they do so much!
Beth, this was really inspiring to read! I loved the suggestions for the different ways to practice gratitude.
Recently, I received a key chain with the words “gratitude reminder” on it. Since I have to use my keys daily, it gives me a chance every day to pause and reflect on something that I’m grateful for at that moment.
Great job with this blog post!
Keesha! Thanks so much for your kind words! They mean a lot. I worked really hard on this blog to bring something special to my readers. You’ll have to check out my next upcoming blog and take the Ultimate Happiness Quiz! Blessings!
Oh gosh! I love this article. I need to practice more gratitude in my life. I know I lack in that department. I tend to be a “Negative Nancy” when things go bad. It’s important to remember that we have so many great things in our lives that others may wish they had. Always be grateful.
Thanks for sharing!
Samantha, I love your comments and am thankful that you found this article on gratitude so inspiring! Have the best day ever!
This is just what I needed! Thanks for the daily inspiration, I will have to try out these tips for sure ????
Danielle, thanks for your comments. Have an awesome day!
I’m a big proponent of practicing daily gratitude. I’ve personally experienced how having and expressing gratitude can be transformative. And it’s true that it’s easy to do (and just as easy not to do). Your suggestions for how to incorporate gratitude in our daily lives are simple yet effective. Thanks for sharing this incredible resource.
Nicole, thank you for your comments. Daily gratitude definitely reaps benefits. I totally agree.
I like the suggestions. I’ve been thinking about a gratitude journal and listing things each day that I am thankful for. I hope to get negative energy out and keep the positive in. Change my mindset some how. Good video at the end too.
Susan, thank you for your sharing your comments! Yes, I LOVE Denzel Washington in this motivational video. I try to listen to it often!
Great Article. I appreciate the positive encouragement found on this blog. I am inspired to be more grateful and gracious today!
Janet, it’s always a pleasure to see your comments. There’s so much negativity in the world, that was one of the biggest motivators for me to create “Made You Smile Back”. Have a ‘best day ever’!
Love this post! I practice gratitude every morning so these ideas are new and refreshing! Thanks for sharing
Kelsey, thanks for your compliment!
Attitude of Gratitude is my motto. Fantastic article. Word of advice: keep a Gratitude List with you, in your pocket or of close by. When, you catch yourself complaining about something, pull that list out and read it. That should put things into perspective. Keep up the Positivity! You help pass it on which helps make the world a better place!
Andrea! Thank you for sharing those great ideas!
Awesome piece of writing. Love it
Umair, thank you for your kind words. I loved writing this special blog so much!
I have been actively adding in more gratefulness practices into my daily routine and it makes me feel better about what I have before I reach out to do and be more. Thanks for reminding me what a powerful tool it can be.
What a fantastic and enlightening article. I love your positivity and your ideas of showing gratitude in all those different ways. This really resonated with me.
Michelle, thank you so much for your comments. I myself was somewhat surprised at how many things you can do to show gratitude. It’s a wonderful thing!
Amazing post! Gratitude is an ideal part of life. Without it we have nothing left. Thanks for highlighting the points on how we can be grateful. This was much needed post.
Um Mishael, thanks so much for your kind comments. Gratitude is key to a happy and successful life. Many blessings to you.