While the word gratitude may sound like a new age buzzword, in Yoga and Ayurveda the word Santosha which translates to contentment occupies a central role in the pursuit of happiness. It features in so many different cultures and practices the world round for good reason, it works.
While it may not be the easiest thing to implement, it is so worth creating the habit of appreciation, acceptance and thankfulness for what is. Just as habitually living in fear can learned or unlearned, so can living with gratitude and contentment.
However, if you are not in the habit of it, it will like any skill, take some conscious effort. Our society has been trained to be much more interested and focussed on negative things. Just look at the news, the majority of TV shows or the content on Netflix.
We are bombarded by negativity and fear and it is easy to become a chronic worrier. And once we get into the habit of worrying, the things that we often do to get a break from our fears often just compound them, Netflix, shopping, eating, alcohol, drugs, social media or any other addictive behaviour. Yoga, Ayurveda and mindfulness offer us a way out of that cycle. Practicing santosha or gratitude can help to improve mood, relationships and increase feelings of optimism and hope.
Here are a few ways to build the habit:
1. Keep a gratitude journal
2. Create cues, like make a habit of naming 10 things you are thankful for as soon as you wake up.
3. Create a small prayer, poem or list of things that you say and keep it with you.
4. Start searching for things to feel grateful for.
5. Be grateful for the smallest things, they are often the best part of the day anyway.
6. Practice being present and bringing yourself into the moment, Yoga postures can help with this.
7. Meditation and pranayama can help to cultivate santosha.
8. Don’t worry if you keep repeating the same things.
9. Encourage other people in your life to be grateful too, it’s infectious!
10. Try to really feel the gratitude as well as just going through the motions.
Try practicing gratitude everyday and enjoying drinking from a cup way more than half full!