How to Shift Your Attitude to Gratitude for More Life Satisfaction
Molly Holmes, LMFT 
Learn how to wire your brain for positivity and appreciation and watch your overall vibe and life soar!
Want more overall life satisfaction?
When you shift your attitude to gratitude you start to appreciate what you’ve got—which helps you get more of what you want. Gratitude positively affects your overall mental wellness and life satisfaction more than any other personality trait. The answer is not totally giving up wanting more, which is really challenging. Shifting your focus to the art of mindfully appreciating what you already have is the way to go. By using mindfulness and mindfulness meditation, you can enjoy and be thankful for what you’ve got now. And this practice will serve to eventually help you manifest more of what gives your life meaning.
Because what you appreciate will appreciate
Gratitude acts like organic miracle-gro in the garden of your life. You can learn how to easily incorporate a gratitude practice into your day. The Zen Mommy MAP includes simple solutions to make shifting your attitude to gratitude easy. Also, you can expand and make thankfulness a family affair. By teaching your children how to adopt an “attitude of gratitude”—you give them a gift that keeps on giving throughout their lives.
This is your brain on gratitude
What does neuroscience say about gratitude? It says that neurons that fire together wire together so that the more we practice gratitude the easier it gets and the more we benefit. Research shows that gratitude actually raises levels of dopamine and serotonin which are basically “feel good” chemicals in your brain. In fact, the more we activate and reinforce the gratitude circuit, the more we automatically focus upon what is good in our lives right NOW. The result is that we readily start to see through a lens of greater positivity. As a result, we generate more of what we want going forward. This is the science of how building a gratitude practice leads to an increase in overall life satisfaction.
Gratitude Trains Your Brain To See The Glass As Half Full
Even though we may understand the positive impact that feeling and expressing our thankfulness has, it can be difficult sometimes to remember to do it. That is why I came up with creative ways to help you shift your attitude to gratitude by pairing these strategies with things you are already doing.
Start Doing These Simple Gratitude Practices During Your Normal Daily Routine And Watch Your Life Satisfaction Soar!
Brush your way to a grateful day
Think of three things you are grateful for when you brush your teeth or your hair while or as you go through your beauty routine. Make sure you mix it up by varying the list each time you do it. The more you mindfully use your brain to think of things you are grateful for, the more it is wired for gratitude. And you can say hello to more of that “happy molecule” serotonin when you take the time to reflect on gratitude. Keep a master list so you can look at it and literally count your blessings if you ever have a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. It will give you perspective and help you get back on a thankful track.
Would you like some gratitude with that?
Mindfully express your thankfulness during mealtimes and let the feel-good chemical dopamine flow like organic wine in your brain. Enjoy a natural high. Tell your partner how much you appreciate what a good cook he is as you allow yourself to savor each yummy bite. Acknowledge your appreciation when your son helps to clear the table without being asked. Thank your daughter for remembering to feed the dog. Let your best friend know how grateful you are for how she always makes you laugh and lifts you up whenever you meet for lunch. Nourish your friends and family with the soul food of gratitude.
Say it with a thank-you card
A handwritten expression of gratitude not only gives it a personal touch that will delight the recipient but the act of doing it will boost your brain (remember that “happy molecule” serotonin we talked about?). Splurge on a few boxes of beautiful thank-you cards so you will be even more inspired to get your gratitude on. Send out one or more thank-you cards a week to the people who do things that make you feel grateful. Thank your mother for watching the kids, your daughter’s teacher for going the extra mile, your friend for making organic treats for the playdate, etc. Everyone likes to be appreciated!
Appreciate what you’ve got
Whenever you feel the allure of wanting that elusive something better like another pair designer shoes or a better model hybrid car or a new juicer. Think of something similar you already have and tap into the reasons why you initially wanted it. Re-live the anticipation & joy of getting that new kitchen gadget. Reminisce about all the good times you had wearing those chic shoes. Remember the pleasure in smelling that new car smell. Hear the juicer making healthy elixirs for your family. The goal is to try to get more “juice” out of what you already have and appreciation is the key.
Turn car rides into gratitude scavenger hunt
Use mindfulness to make the most of your time in the car by looking out the window (safely of course) for everyday things that lift your mood with gratitude. Can you find your favorite color? See if you can find something that makes a beautiful sound or that you know smells amazing to you. Do you see anything that makes you feel happy? Find something you know someone else will enjoy. Can you discover something new? Play this gratitude game alone or with your kids. It is an effective way to redirect them and yourself to positivity when everyone gets cranky in the car.
Gratitude on the go
Use a gratitude app such as Gratitude or 365 Gratitude Journal to practice gratitude wherever you go. Early for an appointment or to pick up your kids from school? You can spend a few minutes using one of these user-friendly apps. Or if you prefer more of a pen and paper approach, start a gratitude journal. Keep it with you so that when you have a few minutes—and the spirit moves you—you can record your grateful reflections. It is easy to practice gratitude anywhere!
By using these thankfulness building strategies—you will build new gratitude circuitry in your brain!
When you pair these straightforward strategies with your daily activities—you will be astonished by how your gratitude circuitry begins to effortlessly shift your attitude to gratitude. Then, seeing the glass as half full will become your new normal. But don’t worry, there is no such thing as gratitude fatigue. Gratitude is the thing you can never get enough of but that always leaves you satisfied!