Cultivating gratitude in times of apparent stagnation: A psychological perspective

By ANEESA MOIDOO, PSYCHOLOGIST

In the world of psychology, gratitude is like a superpower that can make our minds and hearts feel better. It’s not just about being sentimental — it actually helps us in many ways, like making us stronger when things are tough and improving our relationships with others.

Even when life seems kind of boring or stuck, gratitude can be like a light to shift our focus from what we lack to what we have. It shows us the good things that we might not or forget to notice.

Being grateful means noticing and appreciating the good things in our lives, big and small. It’s not about ignoring problems or pretending everything is perfect. Instead, it’s about paying attention to the good stuff that often gets lost in our busy lives.

Gratitude can change the way we see things, turning our focus from what’s wrong to what’s good. When life feels like it’s not going anywhere, it’s easy to start thinking negatively. We might focus on things we missed out on or things we wish we had.

But that’s when gratitude can step in and change our minds. By actively looking for and appreciating the good things in our lives, we can change the way we think, replacing doubt and unhappiness with appreciation and feeling content.

Gratitude can be practiced in different ways, depending on what works for each person. One simple way is to keep a gratitude journal, where you write down things you’re thankful for regularly. Another way is to say thank you out loud to people who have helped you, either by speaking or writing to them.

Doing nice things for others and being kind can also make us feel grateful and happy. Making gratitude a part of our everyday lives takes some effort and a willingness to see things differently.

It’s about having a mindset that sees the good things in and around us, even when life seems boring or stuck. When we embrace gratitude, we discover new possibilities, turning ordinary things into extraordinary moments and giving our lives more meaning and purpose.

(The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Daily Tribune)