4040: 5 Ways That Gratitude Can Change Your Life by Melani Schweder of A Brighter Wild on Practicing Gratitude

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[00:00:55] [SPEAKER_01] This is Optimal Living Daily. 5 Ways That Gratitude Can Change Your Life by Melanie Schweder of A Brighter Wild.com And I'm your narrator Justin Malik, the guy that reads blogs or articles to you every single day of the year, including weekends and holidays. Appreciate you listening every single day. It really means a lot. We're going to get right to our next post as we optimize your life.

[00:01:23] [SPEAKER_01] 5 Ways That Gratitude Can Change Your Life by Melanie Schweder of A Brighter Wild.com I'm a big believer in the little things. Over the years of healing from Lyme and ME and CFS, I've tried a lot of different therapies and I always tended to gravitate towards the big, shiny, sexy ones. I think we all feel that pull, right? We want the one big thing that will transform us, will set things right, or will make us well again.

[00:01:51] [SPEAKER_01] Well, I hate to be the one to say it, but the magic pill doesn't exist. Sorry to burst your bubble. But hey, you know what does work? A dedicated routine that includes lots of healing practices. I know it doesn't sound like as much fun, but hear me out anyway. It's all those small steps you take, the little decisions that you make that can help you finally heal. And for those of you who have been following me for some time, you know that I'm a huge fan of nutrition, yoga, meditation, aromatherapy, herbal medicine, and lots more.

[00:02:21] [SPEAKER_01] But I realized that there's one practice that I haven't really talked about much, and that's my gratitude practice. Before we dive in, let me just say that this isn't anything fancy, doesn't even require special journals or long-time commitments. It's just a few minutes out of each day to tune into the vibration of abundance, joy, and contentment. And it can seriously change your life. I can say that because it has changed mine. I feel less anxious, more accepting of myself and others, and more connected to the world around me.

[00:02:51] [SPEAKER_01] I've noticed that I pay more attention to the little things like a stranger's smile or the soft feeling of nestling in bed each night. My practice has tuned me into the good stuff that's all around me and made my life richer, even though literally nothing about my life has changed. Honestly, a few years ago, if someone had told me that gratitude could be so important, I probably would have shrugged them off. It doesn't really seem like something that powerful, right? Something so simple and intangible surely couldn't alter the path of your life. Needless to say, I'm glad I've come around.

[00:03:21] [SPEAKER_01] My personal gratitude practice is pretty low-key. At the end of each day, I simply make a list of all the things that made me smile that day or the things that really stood out, reminding me of the good in life. I used to write these down in a physical notebook, but nowadays I use the app Grateful to make it even easier. My lists always include at least three to four things, but sometimes it feels like I write an entire paragraph. There are a few things that routinely make the list, like my dog or my partner, but it's usually quite different each day.

[00:03:48] [SPEAKER_01] And one of my favorite things to do when I really need a boost is to look back and read a whole bunch of entries at once. It's a powerful reminder of how good I have it, even when it doesn't feel like it sometimes. It can be hard to even think about a gratitude practice when life seems to be crumbling around you. I get it. When you're struggling to even get out of bed, wracked with pain and fatigue. When your partner suddenly leaves you and you're forced to move out of your home with $8 to your name.

[00:04:13] [SPEAKER_01] When you're facing bankruptcy or you're losing your job or you feel so alone and broken that you don't know how you'll put the pieces back together again. But trust me, I've lived through it and I can honestly say that even on the worst days, there was always, always something to be grateful for. There are so many different benefits to tuning into gratitude each and every day, but I'll just list a few here that have been particularly apparent for me.

[00:04:38] [SPEAKER_01] If you're on the fence on whether or not to start a gratitude practice or you need some renewed motivation to get back into it, here are five ways that gratitude can change your life. Number one, it can make you kinder. Focusing on the good things in life can actually shift the way we perceive the world and other people, increasing our natural amount of pro-social behaviors. These actions are based upon compassion, cooperation and community building and can go a long way to improve your relationships.

[00:05:06] [SPEAKER_01] Some researchers even reported that those with a more grateful mindset were less likely to engage in retaliation or grudge holding after a negative personal interaction. And thanks to the mirror effect, when you're kinder, others are kinder and the ripple effect goes outward. Number two, it can make you more resilient. One of the best benefits, in my opinion, of gratitude is the mental fortitude that it gives. When you get in the habit of focusing on the good things, you're better able to handle the inevitable bad days in life.

[00:05:35] [SPEAKER_01] By recognizing the little things that are going well, you can weather the storms of upset, disappointment and criticism. This kind of mental resilience has been shown to improve our reactions to negative events, whether it's something huge like a natural disaster or something smaller like a symptom flare up. Number three, it can make you invest in your self-care. People that have established gratitude practices also tend to take good care of their health. And I've found that it's a beautiful continuous cycle with each aspect feeding into the other.

[00:06:04] [SPEAKER_01] When you take time to stop and smell the roses, you're more likely to also take time to drink water, eat healthy food, meditate, get more sleep and other health focused behaviors. And that's a win-win for anyone, but especially those with chronic illness. Number four, it can make you more attractive. While it's never a good idea to approach a gratitude practice with the hopes of being more charismatic to others, it can be a pleasant side effect. We're social creatures after all, yes, even we introverts,

[00:06:32] [SPEAKER_01] and the desire for belonging is wired into our very DNA. People tend to have higher opinions of those who are in a grateful mindset and are more likely to develop lasting, trusting bonds with those who see the good side of life. We're naturally drawn towards those who are positive and exude happy energy, rather than those whose negativity drags us down. And number five, it can make you more accepting. I admit acceptance is a continual practice for me, especially when it comes to accepting myself and my perceived flaws.

[00:07:00] [SPEAKER_01] However, gratitude helps me to focus on the things that are going well in my own life, which in turn reduces my anxiety. This also leaks out into my perceptions of others, softening my judgments and expectations. A regular gratitude practice has been shown to improve self-image, confidence, and or understanding of other people, and I've definitely seen those effects personally. Gratitude doesn't need to be complicated, or woo-woo for that matter. It's a simple matter of turning your attention to the things that bring you joy,

[00:07:30] [SPEAKER_01] light you up inside, and make you want to whisper thank you. The feel of the morning sun on your face, a kind compliment from a stranger, the way your dog looks at you when you scratch behind her ears, the relief that washes over you when you have a full bladder and finally spot a gas station, seeing that you have leftovers in the fridge and you don't have to cook dinner tonight. There are so many of these kinds of little moments in each day, and when we can bring our full presence and attention to them over and over again, we really can change our life.

[00:08:02] [SPEAKER_01] You just listened to the post titled, Five Ways That Gratitude Can Change Your Life, by Melanie Schwader of abrighterwild.com. And I'll be right back with my commentary.

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[00:09:03] [SPEAKER_01] Thank you to Melanie. I think one of the biggest shortcuts in life is listening to someone else who's been through similar feelings as you and hearing what did and didn't work. That's not to say that exactly what they did will 100% work for you. And if they did something that might hurt us in some way, then we definitely shouldn't blindly follow advice like that. But if there's something that would likely have zero negative consequences,

[00:09:30] [SPEAKER_01] then trying something that someone in a similar situation found to be helpful, or even many people in similar situations found to be helpful, that's a reasonable place to start. And for Melanie, gratitude is one of those things. Really, for many people, as credible published studies are showing as well. For her, it's a simple app. But it could be just the notes app on your phone. It could be a piece of paper or a notebook. I would say even possibly just in your head.

[00:09:59] [SPEAKER_01] I don't think it matters where it gets done, as long as it's done thoughtfully and some time is taken to really think it through. So definitely something to try. Let me know how it goes. Have a great rest of your day and I'll see you tomorrow. Where your optimal life awaits.