Palejovo ABC - GRACE.

Our emotional state often goes hand in hand with our physical state. Paying attention to people, things or events toward which we feel gratitude can improve our well-being and bring many benefits in the area of mental and physical health.

Gratitude, however, is not limited to thinking warmly about those aspects of life that have a positive impact on us. It's also a proactive way to show someone how we feel. Saying thank you, making a small gift, helping someone, spending time together are just some of the ways we can show gratitude.

For some of us, feeling this emotion comes more easily. Others may have some difficulty with it and get the impression that their lives are so full of difficulties and challenges that there is no more room for gratitude or even the desire to notice certain things that involve something good or positive. However, it turns out that paying attention to joyful events in life and small but pleasant things can be trained. Moreover, chances are that we will improve our own (and perhaps others') well-being.

Noticing things for which we feel gratitude can become a beautiful and deepening family bonding ritual. Each evening you can tell each other what kind of thing happened today that made you happy, helped you, calmed you down, made you smile. Some families create a gratitude journal. Others place one card in a jar each day with things they are grateful for written or drawn on it. This seemingly undemanding exercise has great power. Initially, finding things that trigger our gratitude can be a difficult task. However, with time and practice, it becomes easier and easier, and our attention is redirected to things that make us happy.

Gratitude leads to positive actions. When we feel grateful for someone's kindness toward us, we are more likely to reciprocate that kindness, as well as behave that way toward the people we meet. Your gratitude can also influence someone's actions, increasing the chance that someone will show kindness to others.

Gratitude helps us build better relationships with others. When we feel and express sincere gratitude and appreciation for the people in our lives, we contribute to deepening and strengthening relationships and building trust.

However, there is something that effectively disrupts and hinders the feeling of gratitude. This is pressure. Forcing oneself to feel gratitude can compound stress and make it difficult to see the positive aspects of life. After all, sometimes it's the case that your greatest success is simply getting through another difficult day. And then you can appreciate yourself for making it through. Because gratitude towards yourself is just as important as towards others.