The Power of Gratitude
Thanksgiving is a great time to celebrate gratitude. I am thankful for my family, friends, clients (many are good friends too), vendors, and all of you who take the time to read my blogs.
I discovered the power of gratitude when I learned about the neuroscience of emotional intelligence. Practicing a daily acknowledgment of who and what we are grateful for can be life-changing. Studies have shown how gratitude can shield you from the blues, promote optimism, and make you feel happier. In a nutshell, appreciation can be your antidote to fear and anxiety.
Practicing gratitude is a key component of emotional intelligence in two ways:
- Emotional self-awareness: “Is your glass half empty or half full? Am I grateful or ungrateful?”
- Emotional management: “How can I create a daily ritual and have my appreciation act as an anchor for myself and others?”
Having an intentional focus on people and things that you’re grateful for also strengthens empathy and helps build stronger relationships with others. Gratitude is a powerful human emotion and can be utilized to help us self-soothe when we’re feeling anxiety and fear.
Easy rituals like maintaining a gratitude journal, complimenting yourself, or sending a thank you note can make you feel a lot better and enhance your mood immediately.
As you pause from the bustle of life this Thanksgiving, I hope you can join me in acknowledging those cheerful moments with your friends and family. The simple act of gratitude has a far greater impact than you might imagine. Thanking yourself, others, God, or Mother Nature will make you and others happier. At the Southwest Institute for Emotional Intelligence, we know that emotions are contagious so please share this blog post with your community.
Have a happy Thanksgiving!
To learn more about EI, register for the next EI Online Course or our Self-Paced Introduction to EI.
By Bobi Seredich
