This 5-Minute Gratitude Exercise Will Save Your Day!
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Just one gratitude exercise can save your day. Daily life sometimes takes its toll on us. Nothing serious, but the accumulated stress and fatigue can easily spoil your life.
Today, I wanted to share with you a very simple and quick exercise that is a true antidote to negativity.
If we cannot change events, we can, however, control our thoughts and reactions. The benefits of gratitude are proven, both for our moral and physical well-being. This very quick exercise can truly change your mindset and make you feel better in just five minutes. I will explain everything in this article.
How cultivating gratitude daily can change your life?
Taking care of your mental health is important, and cultivating gratitude daily can genuinely transform your life in a profound and meaningful way.
Yes, we are all super busy with a fast-paced and often stressful life, but just taking a few minutes to breathe, refocus, and appreciate what we already have does wonders for our morale.
Of course, we must distinguish between the work of true therapy done hand in hand with a professional and this exercise accessible to everyone that has the advantage of providing us with a different perspective on the situation.
This exercise, practiced regularly, will train your mind to adopt a more positive and optimistic attitude. I recommend doing it once a day whenever you feel the need.
The 5 x 3 Rule
The gratitude exercise is very simple. You can do it anywhere at any time.
First thing in the morning or whenever you feel stressed or a little down, do this:
- Think of five personal things you are grateful for (e.g., I am grateful to be strong, to be resilient, to have talent…)
- Think of five things/people or events you are grateful for (e.g., I am grateful to have a partner who supports me, to have a family that listens…)
- Think of five general things you are grateful for (I am grateful to live in a peaceful country, to be alive…)
Be as specific as possible; for example, if you are grateful for your partner, mention why. Instead of saying “I am grateful for this person,” say “I am grateful that this person called me this morning to check on me.”
What happens after doing the gratitude exercise
By thinking about positive things, the people who are close to you, and your qualities, you will, after doing the exercise, normally feel more serenity and less stress.
This gratitude exercise serves to take the step back you need in times of stress.
You can also include it in your meditation practice, for example, first thing in the morning before starting your day.
Personally, I do this exercise whenever I feel I’m getting angry quickly, when I’m running late in the morning, and when I’m losing control of the situation.
The situation may not change, but your mindset will, and I assure you that you will have a much better day.
Featured image: © unsplash
