I’d been awake since 3am, and hadn’t slept more than four hours in nearly a week. Every stressful aspect of my life, personally and professionally, needed my attention in some way, and no relief appeared in sight. I was so on edge that when my husband inquired if I wanted some tea, I unwittingly snapped, inadvertently taking my frustrations out on him.

I instantly felt awful, knowing I’d messed up with my partner, and needed to atone. But as I walked towards the kitchen, my husband met me in the hall, holding a hot cup of tea with a fresh lemon wedge perched on the rim, and smiled warmly. “I don’t say this enough, but you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I’d be lost without you.”

I started to cry almost instantly as a flood of emotion– coupled with my lack of regenerative rest– overwhelmed my senses, and hugged him as tightly as I could. I wanted to savor that moment, and told him how grateful I was for him, as well: this mutual offerance of gratitude swelling both our hearts with warmth and joy.

Thank You For Being There – Gratitude’s Hidden Power

If there’s one ultimate, secret weapon for fostering joyfulness, it’s in the expression of gratitude and gratefulness towards yourself, your world, and the people around you. This practice stands above most other proactive choices for boosting joyful feelings, and is a foolproof way to improve your ability to harvest life’s happiest moments. Simply put, embrace your inner Schyuler Sister, and look around at how lucky you are to be alive…right now!

I mean, when you consider the breadth of available information, or the unfathomable technology we are able to possess and access– to say nothing of the majestic beauty of the natural world we’re blessed to live within– it truly is a wonderful world, and a wonderful time to be alive. Stop worrying about what you don’t have in your life, and start expressing gratitude for what you do.

You’ll always catch more flies with honey than with vinegar; be outwardly grateful towards who or whatever brings you happiness when it occurs, and you’ll increase the chances of finding happiness in the future. Studies have shown that creating tangible expressions of gratitude lowers one’s feelings of depression, anxiety, and loneliness. In addition, people who express gratitude consistently have been found to have:

• Lower blood pressure
• Better immune system functionality
• Decreased feelings of stress
• Improved mood and emotional regulation

Like many ancient proverbs or modern cliches, the idea that you reap what you sow– or you get back what you give in life– exists because of the truth lying within. While there are always exceptions to the rule, the more you express gratitude and kindness, the more you’re likely to receive that gratefulness in return.

If you’re unsure where to start, there are several proven ways to invoke a sense of gratitude in yourself or others, and reap the benefits of its awesome power.

• Mental Subtraction – Taking the time to appreciate the things or people you have in your life, by imagining a world without
• Gratitude Visit – This involves writing out a letter of thanks towards someone you care about– someone close to you who you may feel you’ve neglected– then taking the time to read the letter to the person.
• Remember What You’ve Overcome – You’ve been through hell before, and how did it feel when you emerged? Reflect on how you’ve overcome challenges in your life, and appreciate how lucky you are to still be living and breathing.
• Three Good Things Nightly Journal – Each night before bed, take a few minutes to write down three good things that happened during the day. When you force yourself to search for the positive moments on a consistent, nightly basis, you’ll be less likely to dismiss those positive, happy events when they happen.

Making a point to be grateful, for the life you’re living, can make enjoying that very same life that much simpler. Invoking a sense of gratitude, towards the people and things around you that make your life worthwhile, will only boost your sense of self-worth, and ability to live a fully satisfied life. When all else fails, embrace a grateful mindset, and the world will respond in kind.

If you would like to speak with us further, on this or other topics, please call (310-962-5935) or email (info@farahantherapy.com) to schedule a free 30-minute consultation. We are available to meet virtually, or in-person at our Century City or Sherman Oaks offices.