Gratitude Makes Life Happier, Really?

Illustration (Gabrielle Henderson-Unsplash)

JAKARTA - There are too many things that can make us complain everyday. Coupled with comparing other people's lives that seem fun. When you look in the mirror, it feels like life is unfair because you feel that things are so difficult and unhappy.

In fact, maybe in fact you are not that unhappy. It could be the source because you are not grateful for what is there.

Gratitude can be done with anything you have in life. Starting from health, friendship, work, family, partner, place to live, food, from big things to the smallest things.

When you begin to understand how important it is to be grateful, your outlook on life will change to become more positive. For example, can feel different happiness.

In the past, you may often associate happiness with something big, such as having a lot of money or buying expensive things. However, with gratitude, even the little things make you happy. In fact, enjoying the rain while drinking coffee on the terrace of the house feels good.

According to research, gratitude allows the mind to compensate for the brain's innate tendency to focus on negative aspects of life, such as worry.

Gratitude then replaces it with positive emotions, such as love and joy, which in turn increases happiness.

Always remember that when you are grateful, you will be happy, and when you are happy you are automatically grateful.

By practicing gratitude, it can improve sleep quality. Before going to bed, you can write a journal about the things to be grateful for today. Focusing on good and pleasant things will help you avoid negative thoughts and sleep peacefully.

More than that, even relationships with friends, family, and partners can also get better. Previously, you may have felt in a low position and insecure when you met other people. With gratitude, all these feelings disappear and you can have good relationships again with the people closest to you.

Of course, mental health also improves. People who are always filled with negative thoughts are more prone to mental health problems. However, when you enjoy whatever is in life, your thoughts will automatically be more positive and this can save your mental state.

When you are consciously grateful, you can train your brain to pay attention to positive emotions and thoughts selectively, thereby reducing anxiety and feelings of worry.

Isn't it interesting the impact of being grateful to our lives? You can also practice it every day so you can feel the effect. Start with simple ways like keeping a gratitude journal every morning or evening.

Write down what you are grateful for that day, for example drinking good coffee, making a good breakfast, not getting caught in the rain on the way, having clothes in good condition to wear, smooth roads, being treated to lunch by friends, and so on.