Why gratitude can make you feel richer

Hi mama,

One of the best things I bought in the past was a gratitude diary. I challenged my self to do a mini habit of writing 1 thing I’m grateful for everyday.

This is training my brain to look for the positive in my life and highlighting the richness and abundance of my life.

Looking back in all the entries, one theme emerges and this Maori proverb summarises it beautifully:

He aha te mea nui o tea o

He tangata, he tangata, he tangata

What is the most important thing in the world?

It is the people, it is the people, it is the people

Why is gratitude practice helpful?

Science shows that social connection is one of the keys to wellbeing. Given our brain’s tendency to focus on threats, ruminate about the past, or catastrophise about the future, it’s no wonder that we tend to take what we have right here, right now, for granted.

And that includes taking for granted the people that we have in our lives. Writing at least one thing I am grateful for each day has sharpened my perception and focus – people are what’s most important.

My children, husband, family, friends, colleagues, the sushi lady, the librarians, random people who have stopped and said kind words about my kids, or strangers who have offered help – they are what’s important in my life.

When I remind myself of this, the daily annoyance and irritation of life seems to melt away or rather, my perception of them change slightly. I also feel richer in connections and relationships!

Sure, having two preschoolers melting down at the same time in the middle of supermarket shopping is frustrating and stressful but it is not the end of the world!

The science of gratitude is expanding, and the research shows that expressing gratitude offers numerous benefits from improving happiness, mental strength, resilience, enhancing your relationships, and it may even help you sleep better at night.

Like mindfulness, expressing gratitude is a skill that you learn and that you practice. The more you do it, the more that you will get out of it.

How to practice gratitude 

You may already know that practising gratitude is good for you, but like me, as a mum you don’t want yet “another thing to add to the ‘to do’ list” or you are not sure how to create a daily habit that will last.

Here is my tip – just write one thing you are grateful for each day. You can do this on your phone, or write it by hand. Just whatever is easiest! Set this as your ‘mini habit’ and challenge yourself on how long you can keep the streak without skipping a day.

If you do miss a day, don’t worry! Just keep going the next day. It’s all about progress, not perfection.