Begin and End Your Day with Gratitude

It’s safe to say that everybody wants to be happy. In fact, self-improvement represents a $10 billion per year industry in the U.S. alone. Many spend their entire lives searching for the key to happiness unaware of the one practice they can implement today to live happier lives. That practice is expressing gratitude on a daily basis.

There was a time when, like many other Americans, I started my days with my mind racing, thinking of everything that I had to accomplish. Most of the time I was going through the week wishing for the weekend so that I could finally feel joy. The problem with this way of thinking was that I was missing the beauty of every other day. One day I decided I needed to make a personal change. Instead of waking up dreading my work day and whatever other tasks I had, I woke up and wrote down three things I was grateful for.

This practice was life changing. After a few days of waking up expressing gratitude in my journal, I noticed something different. I was happier. My problems didn’t go away. There were still things that happened that truly bothered me. However, I began to see the beauty in my journey and appreciate it, instead of complaining about what I didn’t like.

Being grateful is integral to our well-being. According to Psychologist Robert Emmons, the world’s foremost scholar on the topic of gratitude, the practice of gratitude can increase happiness levels by 25%. Studies have also shown that consistently grateful people are healthier, more energetic, achieve more, are more resilient to trauma, and are less likely to be depressed, stressed, and lonely.

Today I present you with a challenge. I challenge you to take five minutes of your day to write down at least three things that you are grateful for. So often we go through life missing out on prime opportunities to appreciate our surroundings. No matter what is going on in your life right now, there is an opportunity for you to express gratitude. Everything that you’ve ever been through and everything that you will ever go through is a part of your journey and who you are. By expressing gratitude you allow more things to be grateful for to enter into your life.

Will you take the challenge? Comment below, three things that you are grateful for today and increase your happiness.

If you’re seriously ready to live a more purposeful life, I invite you to take my new course: Are You Ready to Step Inside the Arena? By joining this course, you will gain a renewed hope in yourself, actionable tools to transform your dreams into your new reality, and a network to support you along the way. You do not have to settle for where you are now. You can step inside of the arena and find peace and purpose today. The choice is yours.

Click here to watch the course overview to discover if it’s right for you.

About Monica McCoy

Monica McCoy is the Founder of MonicaMotivates, an organization providing coaching, speaking, and consulting services that helps individuals transition from being spectators with their lives to being active participants inside the arena.

In 2011 Monica McCoy noticed the amount of individuals struggling to find their passion and purpose. Sparking her to action, she founded MonicaMotivates, providing global speaking, executive coaching, and consulting services to professional, corporate women and female business owners. Monica initially thought that she wanted to be a cardiologist when going to college, but quickly learned that she wanted to help save lives in a different manner. MonicaMotivates focuses on providing actionable solutions for business owners to pursue their passion, dream, and goals.

 

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/increase-your-happiness-25-one-practice-monica-mccoy