being grateful will improve your health
Jerks. We’ve all met them along our journey of life. The key is to know how to lower the impact they have on our happiness factor and to focus on the positive factors in our life. I’m no doctor, but I do know that being grateful will improve your health and fretting about the small stuff will contribute to illness inducing stress.
I can’t help but feel happy when I see sunflowers, and I am grateful for living in the country where sunflowers are prevalent.
Those of you who are new to this site may think that I only write about chocolate and travel. Those are certainly my priorities these past few years, but I have always enjoyed writing about the various virtues of life as one or the other takes priority in my conscious mind.
Today is such a day. I had a rather negative communication with a business associate that could have ruined my day. His arrogance was enough to turn my stomach. Instead of letting it spoil my day, I chose to focus on all the things that make me grateful. We’ve recently experienced Canadian Thanksgiving, and I know my friends in the US will be celebrating their Thanksgiving this month, so hopefully, this discussion will get us all thinking about the importance of gratitude.
Gratitude has been a regular visitor to this blog over the past seven years, and this link will take you to the 17 posts that have dealt with gratitude in some way. I have learned that being grateful and feeling gratitude have always upped my happiness factor. Does that work for you?
5 things that feed my positive energy and up my gratitude factor
music – especially the music of Bob Seeger, Jimmy Buffett, the Beatles, Alan Jackson, and Leonard Cohen that always bring a smile to my face, lift my spirit, or get my foot tapping.
my simple life – I have a husband who loves and appreciates me, a cat that I adore, good health, and a nice home in a safe community. That is all I need to make me happy.
my work – I get to work from home. I have carved a niche for myself that enables me to write about things I love–like chocolate and travel. And I have found ways to help me travel with limited resources and with the help of my travel industry colleagues. I am immensely grateful for that.
my country – I love Canada and I am grateful to be a Canadian. We generally respect one another and I think that each of us shares that enduring love for a country that welcomes newcomers, cherishes its elders, and encourages free thought.
sunshine – when it’s sunny, I feel good. And I am fortunate to live in a place that enjoys sunshine roughly 320 days of the year.
Just comprising this short list has upped my happiness factor and filled my heart with gratitude. What’s on your list? What makes you feel especially grateful?
You are one of the most positive people that I have ever encountered, Doreen. I appreciate all that I have learned from you about improving my life through practicing being positive and grateful. Please continue to write about being positive.
Thanks very much for your kind words, Sakib. I’m so glad you are enjoying my posts.
I love the emphasis on mental health as well! Stress management is key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Thanks for the insightful post!
This article is a great reminder of the power of gratitude! I’ve definitely noticed that I feel happier and more optimistic when I take the time to focus on the good things in my life. What are some things you’re grateful for? Sharing gratitude with others can also be a powerful way to boost your mood.
Gratitude is such a powerful tool for maintaining happiness, especially when faced with negativity. I love how shifting focus to the positive aspects of life can instantly improve mood and well-being. Whether it’s enjoying simple pleasures like music and sunshine or appreciating the love and support around us, taking time to reflect on what we’re grateful for helps us stay grounded and joyful. It’s a great reminder to always seek the good in every situation!
Gratitude truly transforms our health and mindset, helping to reduce stress and boost overall well-being. It’s amazing how such a simple practice can lead to profound changes. Thanks for sharing these uplifting insights!
It’s appreciable for the excellent suggestions on the importance of gratitude for good health. Without gratitude, our lives can be filled with too much negativity.
It’s great to hear that your interests in chocolate and travel have been the recent focus of your gratitude! Your passion for these topics truly shines through in your writing. It’s also refreshing to see that you embrace the different virtues of life as they come to the forefront of your mind.
Absolutely! Cultivating gratitude has profound effects on both mental and physical well-being. Research shows that practicing gratitude reduces stress, improves sleep quality, and enhances overall happiness. It’s incredible how such a simple mindset shift can lead to better health outcomes. Thanks for highlighting this important connection between gratitude and well-being!
Thank you for many good suggestion about good health. Without good health, our lives contain too much negativity.
Recognizing and focusing on the elements that bring us joy and gratitude is a powerful antidote to the negativity we encounter. Whether it’s the simple pleasures of music, the comfort of home, the pride in our work, love for our country, or the beauty of nature, these sources of positivity have the remarkable ability to uplift our spirits and enhance our wellbeing. This practice of gratitude is a valuable reminder to cherish and focus on what truly matters in our lives.
Recognizing and focusing on the elements that bring us joy and gratitude is a powerful antidote to the negativity we encounter. Whether it’s the simple pleasures of music, the comfort of home, the pride in our work, love for our country, or the beauty of nature, these sources of positivity have the remarkable ability to uplift our spirits and enhance our wellbeing. This practice of gratitude is a valuable reminder to cherish and focus on what truly matters in our lives.
Being grateful can improve your health and your level of well being. Fill your mind with positive thoughts. You will feel more gratitude for simple things.
Your perspective on dealing with negativity and focusing on gratitude is truly inspiring. Music, simple life, work, country, and sunshine – all wonderful sources of happiness. Thanks for sharing your uplifting thoughts!
Uplifting outlook causes a chain of response of positive considerations, occasions and results. It is an impetus and it sparkles exceptional outcomes.
Being grateful can really improve your overall health and your level of well being. Fill your mind with positive thoughts. You will feel more gratitude for simple things.
Incorporating gratitude into your daily routine is a simple yet powerful way to improve your health and well-being. Consider starting a gratitude journal, writing thank-you notes to people who have had a positive impact on your life, or simply taking a few moments each day to reflect on the things in your life that you are grateful for.
Thanks for this post. The information about the importance of health and gratitude is very helpful for a happy family.
This article couldn’t be more timely. With the uncertainties surrounding US elections and world peace, I needed this. I am appreciative of my spouse, my children, my dogs, and my clients. I agree that practicing gratitude can help remove any negativity that might occasionally slip in.
Exercise and hanging out with friends not only keep us healthy but also relieve stress. A positive attitude changes everything in life.
This post was very informative. I was grateful this post increased my knowledge about health, too. Even if we want to live the simple life, it’s really good to know how to better look after ourselves.
This is a great article to show me ways to improve my health. Thanks for sharing these tips on the power of gratitude.
Grateful for your lovely post Doreen.My creativity and ability to help others grow. creating my daily illustrated series What my Coffee says to me. family, friends and guides. waking up everyday.
This is a great article to show me ways to improve my health. Thanks for sharing these tips on the power of gratitude.
Hi, Very good write-up. Really loved reading your article about the4 importance of gratitude. Thanks for sharing.
Emotional thinking is a big issue that I’ve been through for the last two months.Listening to your words today,
I have found a way to correct myself. Thanks for giving so much beautiful health information.
I think that the last two years with Covid and everything else that has hit us have made gratitude more important than ever. So thanks for the reminder xx
Amazing post-Doreen. Being grateful is the easiest thing we can implement in our life and can feel the change. Last year, my business was not doing well and I was very stressed about it. I was facing many health-related problems due to stress. One day, my grandmother told me to look at life with a positive perspective and things will automatically get better. And from that day I stopped stressing over my business, I started finding out the possible reasons which were keeping me away from my goals. And that helped me a lot and after that, I made an action plan for my business which helped me in achieving my goal. Now, I am healthy and run a successful home business of customized t-shirts. Keep sharing such posts that can help people in improving their life as well as health. Loved it.
Hi Monika and welcome to Chocolatour! Thx very much for your positive comments about my post on gratitude. I’m glad it had an impact on you. I hope you’ll continue to explore my site and find more articles that connect with you.
Thanks Doreen. I try to write down what I am grateful for in my journal every day. It helps get me in a great mood each and every morning. Thanks for the article!
It is a great article to know the ways to improve my health. Thank you very much for sharing with us.
Nice article, 5 things that feed your positive energy, is something helps me too.
Nice piece. Gratefulness is one of the secrets that open more opportunities for us in life.
Very nice collection I found here because the willpower must be tremendious
Great article. This article is really well written and I agree with everything you said. Having a healthy lifestyle change your life so much, you feel more motivated, you feel productive and you feel more active. Really nice article. Keep it up.
Thanks for the share. I think its very informative post. I will definitely implement
And thanks for alerting me to Amazer. I think I will use them to create an Image Board!
Studies have shown that gratitude motivates individuals to make healthy food choices. Expressing gratitude is also the ultimate positive action.
Hi Doreen,
I like your post. A positive attitude changes everything in life. I have struggled a lot every time when I tried new things, but positive attitude helped in surviving in all the situations.
Thanks
Thank you for this posting, Doreen. As you know, gratitude is one of my Six Pillars of Civility. That you have related to so many aspects of your life will no doubt help all of us see in a more expansive way how grateful we can be for even the smallest of pleasures – and that doing so makes us healthier and happier. Brava!
Thanks so much for dropping bye and sharing your thoughts on gratitude, Jay. I know it is a topic that important to you, and one that should be more important to all of us. Cheers and Season’s Greetings!
Good posts, beautiful blog.
Congratulations.
Welcome to see my creations:
http://paintdigi.com
Grateful for
…your lovely post Doreen.
…my creativity and ability to help others grow.
…creating my daily illustrated series What my Coffee says to me.
…family, friends and guides.
…waking up everyday.
…love that is everywhere…
One could find millions of reasons to be grateful even the smallest moment noticed and loved can blossom into a bigger beautiful moment in life. May your cup always be full of love, hope, health, happiness and prosperity.
Cheers
Jennifer
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts of gratitude with us, Jennifer. I wish you much happiness. 🙂
Doreen, I interact with so many people on Facebook each week that it’s not even funny.
Many of them have the potential to ruin my day, too, as I often respond to messages early in the day.
(Yeah, I know I should change this habit.)
However, I always remember that is HOW I respond to them that gives me the power of having a great day or not.
By remaining positive (even when someone is being an ass), and choosing to ignore negativity, I am able to stay focused on my goals and keep my good mood.
And if I AM affected negatively, I do some yoga or deep breathing exercises to clear my mind.
Sometimes I listen to music. That always helps, too.
Absolutely, Lorraine. I don’t know where I’d be without music.
Thx so much for stopping by and sharing your thoughts with us. Great to hear from you!
Being in nature…God’s creation…is something that always brings forth a grateful attitude for me. There is still much beauty in the world, like the gorgeous sunflower pic that goes along with this post. I am grateful, too, for my health, so that I can enjoy life to the full!
So true, Debbie. Without our health, we don’t have much. And nature really adds a grounding effect to our existence, doesn’t it? I can’ t imagine living in a big city.
Your post is a reminder to us. It’s so easy to take things for granted and also get caught up with trivial things. Gratitude gives us a lift ,like listening to the Beatles. Thanks for sharing
Nice post, Doreen. I’m grateful that I have my eyesight – to read and see beautiful pictures. And I’m grateful to have the wherewithal to travel, write, and find beautiful people and places.
There’s a lot to be said about having a safe place to live and sunshine in your life. We live on the West Coast so we are very grateful when the sun finally shines 😉
Hi Nathalie and thanks for your comment. I truly love the West Coast and have often thought that I’d like to live there (and I still may, some day.) But I do love the abundance of sunshine that we are so blessed with on the Prairies. 🙂
I have learned to start each day with giving Thanks. We who live in Canada have so much to be grateful for even when everything doesn’t always go the way we plan. Wonderful post Doreen.
Thanks so much, Lenie. It’s always great to hear from you. Yes, after travelling a large part of the world, I have really come to appreciate all of the wonderful things we know as Canadian. Giving daily Thanks is a great way to start the day! Thx for sharing that habit with us.
The real Gift of Gratitude is, the more grateful you are the more present you become! Gratitude is a positive emotion and helps us bring in positive energy and improvements in life. Thanks for sharing a reminder we all need from time to time!
Thanks so much for your comment, Sushmita. I am really grateful that my post has touched so many people. I suspect our feelings of gratitude are enhanced this week because it is Remembrance Day and we are grateful for the sacrifices our predecessors made for world peace and stability. And I suspect that many Americans are looking for something to feel grateful for in view of the recent election, and am grateful that so many of them have expressed their thoughts here.
We all are connected by a common string Doreen and I am grateful for that! Let’s hope we be connected and touched always 🙂
I am grateful for my two grown children, who are wonderful human beings and who have made me six grandchildren that I am also gratfeful for.
If I’m ever stressed… especially if it’s keeping me from sleeping, I usually start listing things in my head that I’m thankful for, like family, friends, and where I live. Science shows being thankful is good for you, and I know it always works for me!
Right on, Jeffrey! That’s a perfect cure for insomnia. Thx so much for stopping by. 🙂
Hi Doreen,
Gratitude and chocolate, with some travel thrown in: a perfect combo. Thanks for providing all three.
~Josie
Being grateful, for anything, can generate good energy for you. When you think about it, most of the problems thrown to us, comes from an external source. How we react to them, how we control how we feel, is the only think we have control over. What is, is, feeling miserable about is not going to change anything. It is just better to enjoy the ride.
So true, William. There are definitely some things that are beyond our control, and it’s best for our health and our sanity if we don’t worry about what and who we cannot change. Thx for stopping by and sharing your thoughts.
Thx to all for latest comments. Here’s to positive thinking! 🙂
Karen, you are so right re appreciating even the smallest things when we are facing a larger difficulty. Each small piece of sunshine will help to brighten the day. Have a good one!
We drove through parts of southern Spain this summer and there were a multitude of fields filled with sunflowers – I’m with you Doreen, as they always make me smile! This was a perfect post to read today when I need to remember all the things that I’m grateful for instead of worrying about the future. The sun is shining and I can see the Atlantic ocean out my window sparkling on the Algarve coast of Portugal. Life really is good!
Thanks for this reminder Doreen, we in the western world have so much to be grateful for even when it all looks a bit bleak. But often it’s the smaller things, like a bird singing, that remind me to look around and appreciate what I have.
A great post to read today when so many of us need a bit of uplifting. Mindfulness is really coming into it’s own with the powers of healing and I am so glad it is getting more attention. I don’t want to get political, so I’ll leave it by saying I am grateful to live in a democracy where there is a peaceful transition of power. <3
Haha…many of us Americans would be grateful to be Canadian right now. And we’re definitely testing your desire to welcome newcomers.
But seriously, of course I love this post. And it is very timely for many of us who are extra anxious right now. And I’m sitting here with my cat on my lap and my dog by my side and it really does help slow me down and help me breathe.
At the end of a difficult day, when it seems there isn’t anything in particular to be grateful about as I write in my gratitude journal, sometimes it is enough to write: eyes and ears that work, arms and legs that move, a roof over our heads, a warm bed to lie in. Then, when I think that is the minimal I should be happy about, I realize how many people across the world do not have these things and I’m humbled. That usually knocks the brat out of me and makes me grateful for even bigger things!
Right on, Rose. We certainly don’t have to focus on the big stuff in order to exercise our gratitude. It’s great that you have a daily habit of taking time out to express and record your gratitude. We should all do that. Cheers!
I love your post Doreen! You are exactly right that practicing gratitude can increase your happiness – by 25% (according to University of California Psychology Professor Robert Emmons, PhD and gratitude expert). So it’s great for physical and mental health! I noticed that when I think about all that I am grateful for, I instantly feel better and honestly, I don’t do it enough. I am going to make it more of a habit this coming year!
Thx so much for your comment, Stacey. It’s always great having you join the discussion. For any readers not aware of Stacey, she runs the excellent “Virtues for Life” site where you can get daily inspiration.
Doreen — I have a lot to be grateful for and I truly count my blessings every day. I have my health, family and friends that I love, and a life rich in enjoyment of the arts, books, and my favorite game of bridge. I am truly a blessed person. Thanks for the reminder to always be grateful for what you have because you don’t know what tomorrow will bring.
You are one of the most positive people that I have ever me, Doreen. I appreciate all that I have learned from you about improving my life through practicing being positive and grateful. Please continue to write about being positive.
Thx so much for the very kind words, Bev. You may enjoy some of the previous posts I’ve written about gratitude. Check out some of those 17 posts in the link I included in the post.
I love this post, it’s nice to switch it up sometimes. Thanksgiving season is always a great time to reflect on what we are truly grateful for. And right now, particularly in US with stress of elections, it’s good to focus on these things.
I try to keep a gratitude list and I share it with a friend, but today I was feeling low and couldn’t think of things to be grateful for, though I have so many. Thanks for the reminder.
I hear you, Suzanne. Some days are diamonds, some days are coal. We just need a little reminder once in a while to help us realize how much we have to be grateful for.
I have learned to tune into gratitude in spite of the negativity in my world. Indeed, it is a helpful tool in recovering from Adrenal Fatigue. I just have to adjust that channel from time to time.
Hi Esther. Indeed, sometimes we have to put a little extra effort to feel the love and the gratitude. One step at a time …
Thank you for the reminder. It does us good to remember that gratitude is important. My heart drops when I hear of and see people suffering around the world.
At times we are seeking more in life, we can forget to be thankful with what we have right now. It is easy to take life for granted especially when you have lived a comfortable life.
Reading the bible always humbles me. It serves as a reminder of how I should be living.
You are so right about gratitude being one of the best “medicines” we can take, and stopping for a moment to think about this can help turn a lousy moment, or day, into a much better one.
We all have occasions when the *wrong* person crosses our path, and sometimes we have to deal with them before they are no longer in our lives. Remembering all of the *right* people in our lives–our families, our friends, colleagues we like working with–just makes dealing with the Jerks a little easier. Since you mention music, check out Connie Kaldor’s song “Jerks” from her album “Love, Life, Laughter.” It’s a great one, as is the title track. You should be able to find them on YouTube.
Sunshine, love, friends, work that we love–it all adds up to a wonderful life, doesn’t it?
Thx for sharing your thoughts, Christine, and for the music tip! I do like Connie Kaldor and will check out the tunes you’ve mentioned.
Doreen – Practicing gratitude is something I do on a daily basis. I write down at least five to six things that I am grateful for and appreciate. It’s helped me get through a lot of tough stuff in life, which right now means teenager and all that goes with them – ha, ha. And I wish I could be Canadian…at least for today!
Right on, Janice! I hope today goes well for all Americans, and that we all wake up tomorrow to a happy and peaceful place. I’m sure we will all be truly grateful for that. 🙂
Thanks for this post Doreen. I like you have been pondering how grateful I am about all the abundance I have in my life. I get really frustrated with people that I work with too. It’s tough to learn that you just can’t control everything. Learning to be positive, continue learning and move forward is really the only way to go.
A positive attitude changes everything in life, especially when we’re faced with hardships or ill health. It’s so important to appreciate what you have – and it’s so easy to take both for granted and not recognize it for the gift it is. Great post Doreen. Thanks you.
Thx to everyone for weighing in on this interesting issue. It appears we all take comfort in our pets and the simple things in life in little bites that help us find the positive of the moment. Cheers to all who have shared their thoughts.
Happiness comes in many forms to me. Being outdoors (which is where I’ll be during today’s rowdy election day), health, a cat purring in my lap, and a delicious piece of Belgian chocolate! I’m glad you turned around that negativity.
Well said Doreen. We all have to avoid stumbling over things thrown in our paths.
Happily dancing down our individual pathways is a great personal journey and victory.
Great attitude Doreen! At the moment it’s easy for me to focus on what I’m grateful for because my little dog Lucy is keeping my feet warm on this chilly morning. It’s impossible not to smile when I look at my fuzzy little gal with the huge brown eyes. 🙂
Am always grateful for even little things. Have also concluded that most things in life are not important and hence not worth wasting time and energy on. Someone taking out their problems on me is not worth focusing on.
As for US elections, if Trump wins it will impact the whole world in negative ways. The US will cease to be the only superpower and Russia, China, India and Turkey will attempt to fill the void. Don’t need to tell you the impact that will have on human rights, do I:-)
Lovely post, Doreen. I’m grateful for an 11-year-old kitty cat who came into my life very unexpectedly, and a job that lets me travel a lot! There’s more, but those are my two biggies right now.
With so many changes the last two years, I can say I am thankful for my little yellow house and the roof over my head. Sunlight filtering through the leaves is also something that can make my mood brighter on the darkest of days.
Boy this sure was great timing! I have written about being Grateful as well. The world is a pretty negative place and there is a lot of screaming (figuratively and actually) going on. More people need to focus on the good in our lives. Thank you for the reminder <3 I am a proud American but I love Canada too.
A well timed post my friend. It’s easy to get lost in all the negativity of life and forget to count our blessings. Thank you for the reminder.
I too am thankful for the things you’ve listed. We can sometimes get so wrapped up in the chaos and complexities of the world we forget the simple things that truly bring happiness. Nice reminder.
I concur with everything you said in the article Doreen … well said!
Thanks so much, Syndi. I know that you know of the situation that inspired this post. Cheers for being cheerful! 🙂
This post is so appropriate right now. I needed this with the uncertainty that is coming tomorrow with the US elections. I am grateful for my husband, my kids, my pets and my clients. I agree that being grateful helps clear up the negativity that may creep in sometimes.
Thx for your comment, Sabrina. Yes, I thought of you folks in the US when writing this post, as I know how difficult it must be with the uncertainty of what is to come. Here’s hoping that on Wednesday morning, all Americans find a way to work together as you move forward, regardless of which candidate wins.