{"id":3351,"date":"2023-10-07T01:49:06","date_gmt":"2023-10-07T01:49:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/salimahhaji.com\/staging\/5201\/?p=3351"},"modified":"2023-10-07T01:57:30","modified_gmt":"2023-10-07T01:57:30","slug":"what-does-gratitude-mean","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/salimahhaji.com\/staging\/5201\/what-does-gratitude-mean\/","title":{"rendered":"What Does Gratitude Mean?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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What Does Gratitude Mean?<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

What Does Gratitude Mean?<\/h1>\n\n

Most families in Canada and the USA are preparing to celebrate Thanksgiving shortly. You may have a tradition of going around and having each person present at your gathering to share what they are most grateful for this year.
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I think it would be very beneficial to practice gratitude every day and not just once a year. What does gratitude mean?
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Gratitude means taking the time to feel appreciation for everything that you have been blessed with in life.\u00a0
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This includes everything that you consider good and challenging.\u00a0\u00a0The universe loves and guides us and therefore it is important to embrace the fact that life and challenged always happens for your benefit.\u00a0
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All the challenging moments that you experience help you learn lessons and grow so that you can serve your purpose in a bigger and better way.<\/p>\n\n

Can Gratitude Help Depression And Anxiety?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n

Gratitude when practiced daily and consistently enhances our mood and makes it more likely for us to experience more positive emotions, makes us feel better and reduces feelings of depression and anxiety.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Does Gratitude Change Your Brain?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n\n

Practicing gratitude does rewire and change your brain which then leads to a more satisfactory and better life experience. Here are five ways that gratitude rewires and changes your brain.<\/p>\n\n

Activates Your Hypothalamus\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n\n

Gratitude activates a part of your brain called the hypothalamus which regulates your body functions. As a result, you will have a stronger immune system, experience less pain, and feel healthier both physically and mentally.
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You will be better able to control your appetite and eat a more healthier diet that is vital and optimal for your body instead of overeating because you are suffering from emotional trauma and wounds.
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You will have a better quality of sleep because the hypothalamus also controls your sleep pattern and the type of sleep you get.\u00a0
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You will experience a more restful and peaceful sleep. You will also experience your ideal, normal, and optimal growth pattern according to your age.<\/p>\n\n

Changes Your Brain Pattern\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n\n

You will experience changes in your brain pattern as your brain cells communicate and form new pathways when you practice gratitude regularly. Your brain can grow and change throughout your life due to neuroplasticity and it\u2019s ability to form efficient new pathways to the bliss center.
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Brain cells that continue to fire together will wire together and form new neural connections which will enable you to experience joy, natural high, and positive emotions faster and more often.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Enhances The Production Of Happy Hormones\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n\n

Gratitude enhances the production of happy hormones called dopamine and serotonin. You feel a natural high and be in a good mood more often. You will decrease your chances of feeling anxious or depressed no matter what you are going through in your life.
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You will feel happier and have a positive outlook and thinking because gratitude actually raises your energy and therefore you will be more aligned with your higher self and live your soul\u2019s qualities which are peace, love, joy, and compassion.\u00a0\u00a0
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You will feel more acceptance, compassion, and empathy towards other people. You will experience more meaningful, deeper connections and relationships with the people in your life.<\/p>\n\n

Regulates Stress Hormones<\/span><\/h3>\n\n

Gratitude helps with the regulation of stress hormones so no matter how many challenging situations and stressors you may be going through in life you will be less likely to be affected by them.\u00a0\u00a0
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If you have experienced any trauma in life and have been suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder you will feel its effects less.<\/p>\n\n

Restructures The Brain And Cognitive Functioning<\/span><\/h3>\n\n

Gratitude also helps you restructure your brain for better cognitive functioning and as a result, you will feel good, positive, and hopeful about your life. It will also help you think good thoughts and experience more positive emotions.<\/p>\n\n

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