In the past few years, I’ve had a single observation despite successes and failures which has been pretty consistent – gratitude is the secret sauce to happiness.

For long I heard people talk about gratitude especially from my Dad – I thought it was just an excuse he used for being BROKE. So I held on to pain and sadness by focusing on things & outcomes I had no control of.

When I started learning about Gratitude and applying it to my life; everything CHANGED.
– I complained less
– Focused more on things I had control of
– Became Happier as a bonus

No regrets, just lessons. No worries, just acceptance. No expectations, just gratitude. Life is too short.

— Gary Goodridge (@garyhgoodridge) May 20, 2022

What is Gratitude? 

Gratitude is the quality of being thankful, readiness to show appreciation for and return kindness. It’s the real key to abundant life as it dissolves resistance. Only when you embrace gratitude in your life will you experience the wonders of true abundance.

I didn’t need to change my personality as a person or expectation in life to become happier, rather I only changed my perspective. Someone else is happy with less than what you have. A sprinkle of gratitude allows the taste of gratitude to appear.

This made me reflect on kids I had seen on a travel to a village recently. No fancy clothes or expensive schools to attend; yet the SMILE on their faces were surreal. Simply because they were trained to be grateful for the little things they had – inadvertently making them happier.

Gratitude tells a lot about your Character 

It’s a disease to receive so much and not take notice of it. Imagine helping a person on the street get food and instead of receiving thanks for your kindness, they complain on something like “why is the drink not cold enough.” How would you feel?

You might think gratitude is a habit you should only practice to benefit your life but it tells a lot about your character, positive interaction with others and your happiness as a whole.

How does gratitude increase happiness?

Gratitude is the key to happiness because it allows us to appreciate the good in our lives, which leads to more happiness. When it comes to happiness, there’s nothing that is effective in bringing happiness as instantly as possible compared to gratitude.

Its a common denominator for both the poor and rich – its why the poorest people on the face of the earth still smile and how billionaires can stay sane. It plays a huge role regardless of your income level. And is a crucial life skill everyone should inculcate in their kids life.

Happiness is a state of mind

Happiness is a state of mind that requires nothing and no one but yourself. It’s a mistake to think we need to be happy to be grateful. But rather when we develop gratitude we become happier. On days when you feel low the most and happiness seems far, try gratitude. There is more to be grateful for than you think.

Thoughts and hope like “Once I make money I’ll be happy” is you placing your happiness in the hands of materialistic things which is futile.

“As the years pass, I am coming more and more to understand that it is the common everyday blessings of our common everyday lives for which we should be particularly grateful.” – Laura Ingalls Wilder

Gratitude is the secret sauce of happiness

Without gratitude there is no happiness. Gratitude is the shortcut to happiness and success. The happiest people focus on what they have rather than what they don’t have. Your happiness is the sum of the gratitude you have towards the things you have now.

A reminder that the simplest act or word, smile, kind gesture may be the only communication that a person may have had all day, perhaps week?

Unhappy people are always focusing on what’s missing.

“When your eyes are open only to the missing aspect of your life, you automatically close your eyes to the things present in your life.’” – Vashney

Having gratitude during tough times is the real flex.

Gratitude is powerful because it can help us overcome difficult times and find joy again. Every pain gives a lesson and every lesson changes a person. When times get tough, stay strong and remain GRATEFUL.

I love how my coach friend Micheal Yeung puts it:

It’s easy to express gratitude during good seasons.

Gratitude’s true power gets unlocked when it remains as a disciplined practice during tough times.

By being grateful for life’s challenges, we can learn and grow from them, making them easier to face next time.

We are all participating in this thing called life. Stop expecting everything to go smooth, cause it ain’t. The road to success is always under construction. The one way to combat discouragement is with gratitude, it’s a serious principle to success. pic.twitter.com/WdSpW7maAI

— Steve Harvey (@IAmSteveHarvey) August 14, 2020

Benefits of Gratitude to your happiness and others 

1. Gratitude can help you have an abundance mentality
2. Studies have shown that people who are more grateful tend to live longer, healthier lives. This brings a shift in perspective to bring you peace and happiness. Gratitude makes you live longer.
3. Protects against negative emotions such as Fear, Anxiety, frustration, annoyance, anger.
4. Prevents feeling of depression – “the seeds of depression cannot take root on a grateful heart.”
5. Attracts more blessings and abundance.
6. It strengthens relationships. How toxic of a relationship it is to have with an ingrate?
7. Expressing gratitude has been shown to lower blood pressure, improve immune function, and reduce stress levels. It improves health, decrease stress & increases quality of life.
8. The more grateful you are, the happier you will be: Gratitude creates a positive feedback loop in your brain that makes you feel good. Giving thanks makes people happier and more resilient.
9. It helps to spread a positive contagion of joy, smiles and happy moments. When you’re grateful for what you have, you’re more likely to want to help others who may not be as fortunate.
10. When we have gratitude, it fills us with positive energy that can heal emotional wounds and promote physical wellbeing.
11. Being grateful can help quiet your mind at night and lead to more restful sleep.

CONCLUSION 

Gratitude shifts your focus from what your life is lacking to the abundance that is already there.

Begin each day thinking about things you are thankful for and watch your happiness soar.