Being Grateful Will Make You Happy — Here’s Why

We spend so much of our time thinking about all the things we wish we had. All the things we’re missing out on today.

If we just had those things our life would be better — we would be happier.

Right?!

Well maybe...

Many people like money and would love to have more of it. We think that having more money will make our lives better and that we will be happier.

Well maybe...

Maybe you would be happier if you got a lot of money. But does thinking about your lack of money make you happy? Does thinking about the things you don’t have, make you any bit happier?

Probably not...

But what makes you happy?

What are you grateful for?

Your mom? Dad? Kids? Siblings? Friends? Your dog? Your house? Your hobbies? Your good health? Your weird taste in music? Being able to read, breathe, walk, taste, love? Being able to feel the sun on your skin and drink clean, cold water?

Try to find 3 things you’re grateful for. What is it about these things that make you feel grateful?

Exercising gratitude daily will make you happier.

Science has shown that a regular gratitude practice can enhance many of our physical and mental health like improving sleep, mood, immunity, and risk of disease. It can also decrease depression and anxiety by default — which means we don’t always have to practice trying to be happy.

Like many others, I also would like to have more money. I used to work 3 jobs, 50 hours a week while reading for my bachelor’s degree full time.

2 of those jobs I hated.

I was so obsessed thinking about money, that I spent 2 years of my twenties doing stuff I hated for hours every week.

And I can say with confidence — it didn’t make me one bit happier.

“It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor ” — Seneca.

I was so caught up in the idea of making money, that I forgot all the things in my life I should be grateful for. Many of which I couldn’t imagine living without.

Reflecting on these things changed my mood, and I started thinking more deeply about why I wanted more money.

The answer:

I wanted FREEDOM.

I don’t care about having an expensive car or wearing designer-brand clothes. I just want freedom to do what I want, when I want. To work with what I want and to travel where I want.

Freedom is the ability to control our own time — which is our most valuable asset

I quit those two jobs and found other ways to make money.

It doesn’t earn me as much, but I feel free and a lot happier, which ultimately was the end goal of making money.

Live today

It doesn’t make sense to give in to bondage today in the hope of living freely in the future.

Life is today.

In these 24 hours.

If you want to have a good life, you should focus on having a good day.

A good life is just a series of good days.

You can’t live tomorrow — you can only live today.

Put your energy and focus on today, and in time you will achieve whatever you want.

Remember gratitude as a tool to ground yourself in this moment and all the things that you already have that make you happy.

Thank you for reading — I really hope you found this story helpful.

Have a wonderful day!