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The Power of Gratitude
A Wellness Corner Blog Post By NRCDV’s Wellness Warriors
“Grateful for democracy? Uphold it.
Grateful for diversity? Protect it.
Grateful for our Earth? Care for it.
Grateful for freedom? Defend it.
Grateful for love? Spread it.
Grateful for justice? Fortify it.
Grateful for peace? Live it.”
- Kristi Nelson
In recent years, positive psychology research is lending growing support to an assertion long held by philosophers and religious leaders: gratitude is essential to our good health, happiness and overall well-being. Gratitude helps us appreciate and refocus on what we have rather than what we lack. By cultivating gratefulness, we can improve our personal lives, as well as life for others.
Here are some simple, yet powerful, ideas to help you practice and cultivate gratitude in your daily life:- Begin each day with a positive affirmation.
- Count your blessings every day by making a mental list and/or keeping a gratitude journal of things that you are grateful for in life.
- Spend a few minutes daily thinking about the things that make you happy.
- Make it a habit to write gratitude letters and thank you notes to family, friends and co-workers.
- Practice meditation, focusing on what you are grateful for in the present moment.
- Engage in small, perhaps unnoticed acts of kindness each day.
To learn more about the practice of grateful living, visit Gratefulness.org.
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