The benefits of practising gratitude
I decided to practice gratitude after reading the benefits of practising it and making it a part of your everyday life.
I had just been recovering from a serious bout of depression, that took me to very low levels of thinking. I had not suffered depression before and people had usually commented on how I smiled a lot.
But things changed drastically for me and I did not realise I was going into a downward spin until it was too late.
I also had a big void in my life and life does not like a vacuum! It seeks to fill it and not always with great things.
I did not take control and things just got worse and worse. I felt alone, with no one to turn to. I also did not like to let others into my very private thoughts, so others misread me and judged what they saw on the surface.
They were seeing the symptoms, and not the terrible feeling of desperation and not having anywhere to turn to when I needed help.
There was always judgment and that's not helpful when you're on a downhill slide.
Resilience and Gratitude
As I was growing up, I had developed resilience and I reminded myself that I had to believe there was a light at the end of the tunnel. I kept saying that but I really did not believe it.
Although I am not saying that you should not take medication for depression, it was not for me.
I met someone who helped me enormously by supporting me in a very troubled time. He saw things that others did not see so it was easier for him not to judge me.
He knew I was making bad decisions but he also saw through lies leveled at me and my complete burnout. I had no mental strength left.
I could not say 'no' and life was very demanding for me, as well working a very demanding job entailing 3 hours travel a day.
He saw why I was struggling and the candle was burning at both ends, and ready to snuff out!
My Plan to Improve my Mental Wellness with Gratitude
I had learnt with my last job that you need to fill the vacuum in your life.
I started a new job and found that I liked what I was doing. After the demands of the last job, it was a very pleasant change.
So keeping busy with a job I liked was my first step towards better health.
As it was a casual job with an agency, I still had panic attacks on my days off but I then thrust myself into learning to blog, on my days off.
So keeping busy helped me as I did not have time for negative thoughts.
My introduction to gratitude.
While blogging, I came across articles on Gratitude. They really resonated with me!
After a late divorce, and my totally giving up on ever making up the money and house I lost after 28 years of marriage, I knew I had to work hard and gain a reputable name with the agency and schools so I could get a fair amount of work throughout the year.
I started to actively practice gratitude until it became a habit. I read articles and sat down at the end of each workday and thought about what were the positive experiences I had that day.
I wrote them down so they became more concrete.
When working with a troubled student, we made a Gratitude Jar so that we could pull a gratitude strip out, at random, and reflect on what had happened on any particular day.
It's so easy to focus on the one bad thing that may have happened and let it sum up your whole day.
I was happy and smiling again. I became an Ambassador for my agency and was being requested by schools to be their first call when teachers were absent.
I loved working with the kids and did not get involved in work politics. I treated my support workers well and knew how to handle difficult children, with my background in special ed. and autism.
I did things cheerfully!
Yes, finding the little things to be grateful for each day instead of focusing on the negative had a positive effect on my life.
I have been the only casual teacher employed throughout the pandemic on an ongoing basis, and the school has employed me in another capacity when I finished the first placement.
How practising gratitude can help you?
Speaking in general terms, practicing gratitude will:
How Gratitude underlies the Law of Attraction:
When you send out good positive vibes, you attract others effortlessly.
Your thoughts determine your experiences so positive thoughts will attract positive experiences in a person's life and vice versa.
Another fundamental belief in the Law of Attraction:
The Law of Attraction can further help you as it can:
