The power of gratitude and how to practice it

What is gratitude and how can it help us?

Gratitude, in the simplest form, is a thankful appreciation for what one has.

It is a positive state of mind that focuses on what we already have, rather than what is lacking in life. It is the awareness that life isn’t perfect and it doesn’t always go the way we want it to go; but from a realistic perspective, there are always some good things in life that we can appreciate.

Try the free guided Gratitude meditations on Medito, our free-forever mindfulness and meditation app. Download on the App store (iOS) and Play store (android)

So why do we need to practice gratitude? Why doesn’t it just come naturally?

It’s a part of our evolution. We generally tend to return to a certain baseline level of happiness despite major positive or negative events in life. We adapt to them. This concept is called “hedonic adaptation”, and it is essential for our survival.

The downside of hedonic adaptation is that we also adapt to even the most wonderful things we have over time. Their subjective impact decreases over time, and we lose interest. There are many things in life that make our lives much better but eventually we don't even acknowledge their existence because we get used to them.

That’s why we need to intentionally pay attention to the good things in life. In this way, we can reverse our adaptation, see the wonderful things as they are, and feel the power of gratitude.

Research shows that the practice of gratitude can change subjective wellbeing. Even a small act like listing a few things we are grateful for has an incredibly powerful effect on our mental health.

People who practice gratitude feel that their lives are going better as a whole. They have a more optimistic perspective on the future. They show fewer physical symptoms when they are sick and they make healthier habits such as exercising more.

By paying attention to the things we are grateful for, we cultivate happiness, compassion, and kindness.

By being grateful, we cultivate a better life.

So how can we practice gratitude?

One of the most effective ways of developing a regular gratitude practice is to create a daily gratitude list.

Each day, take 5-10 minutes and list the 5 things you’re grateful for. You can write just a couple of words or some long sentences if you like. The content of what you write and the way you express yourself does not matter as long as you are mindful when you’re writing it. If you intentionally pay attention, you’ll feel the benefits even more.

You can add it to your daily routine, and either start or finish your day by listing those 5 things that make your life better. Within just a week, you will feel the difference in your outlook. Over time, being grateful will become a normal part of your day-to-day life and the benefits will become more and more clear.

Find which method works best for you

No special format is needed for a gratitude list. You may write it down in your journal, write a note on your phone or use one of the many free apps. You may also prefer sending your gratitude lists as messages to your most trusted and loved ones if you like. In this way, you can start a gratitude circle.

If writing is not for you, you could meditate on 5 things you’re grateful to have every day. You could also make a list in your mind at the end of your daily meditation sessions by visualizing your list.

Can’t come up with anything to be grateful for?

The reason it doesn’t come naturally to us is our adaptation. Although it's a vital part of our evolution, we adapt to even the most wonderful things and take them for granted.

We can reverse it with a simple practice called negative visualization. Take a look around and try to imagine how different your life would be if you didn’t have the things or the people you love. You don’t have to think about extreme negative situations. Just think about how your day would be different without them and recognize their positive impact on your life.

Practicing gratitude transforms your outlook upon life in overwhelming ways. Within just a couple of days, you will feel that noticing the good things will get easier. And over time, you will know in your heart that life is beautiful, no matter what happens.

Download Medito for free and try the guided Gratitude meditations. Medito is available on the App store (iOS) and Play store (android)