I thought with the recent passage of the Thanksgiving holiday, which traditionally focuses on gratitude for the many blessings we have in life, for the thankfulness we feel for the friends and family that enrich our lives, and for the things we take for granted like food and shelter, it was only appropriate to write about the very important practice of recognizing the emotion of gratitude.

When you ask different people what their definition of happiness is, the answers can vary greatly. Some may equate happiness with having a stable, loving marriage or healthy and happy kids. Some may think financial well being and success are the foundation of true happiness. Others may think happiness is determined by satisfaction in their professional life, or a career or hobby that is fulfilling.

In other words, happiness means a great many different things to different people. One of the ideas that is constant regardless of what your definition of happiness is though is the concept of gratitude. Actively practicing gratitude can vastly increase your feelings of fulfillment, life-satisfaction and overall mental health and stability. Related: Hot Yoga for Improved Mood, Focus

What is Gratitude?

Gratitude is defined as “the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and return the blessings that have been bestowed on you”. I added that last part, because honestly that is my take on the true meaning of gratitude. It’s not about reciprocation of acts of kindness as some definitions imply, in my humble opinion. Rather, it is a state of mind about the blessings in your own life and the daily recognition and thankfulness felt for these blessings.

If you think about that, it really means that you have to possess the self awareness to actively exhibit this quality consciously and as a concerted effort, most days of your life. People who actively and consciously focus on gratitude tend to be very aware of the effect this type of feeling has not only on their mood and level of happiness, but also the cascade effect this can have on the happiness of others around them.

Gratitude, Mental Health and Happiness

Gratitude, especially when practiced regularly, is a never ending positive feedback loop. Studies have shown that those that regularly acknowledge the gifts they have in life tend to also desire to “give back” to others in a show of thanks for the gifts they’ve received in life. This concept of paying it forward creates a positive loop since it also bestows the same positive feelings on the recipient.

That person is then more likely to feel gratitude, and to subsequently desire to pay it forward in their own way too. It really is a great overall way to improve not only your own mental health, happiness and contentment in life, but also to help enrich others in the same way.

Try it Out

So in recognition of the season of thanks and gratitude, try it out for yourself. If you’re finding yourself getting stuck in a spiral of negative thoughts, try shifting your focus to the things that are going “right”. Even if it’s something as small as your good health, or the good health of prosperity of others around you, focus on that. Try doing something small to make someone else smile or to make their lives a little easier.

It can be a powerful shifter of mood, good fortune and overall health and happiness if you make it a regular practice. Pictured in this post are our dearly beloved now-passed cats Riley and Mika. Every time I look at pictures like this, I'm overwhelmed with gratitude that we were so lucky to have had two such special creatures in our lives and to have experience that type of bond and love. Sadness too, of course.  But mostly gratitude.  I guess it's all in the way you frame things in life.  Related: Health and Mood Benefits of Sun Exposure