How gratitude can enrich your life.
A healthy and content life is the real goal for many people. But how do you achieve it? With the help of Ayurveda, the “knowledge of life“, you can come a little closer to this goal. Because Charaka Samhita, the authoritative fundamental work of Ayurvedic medicine, names an important cause of disease and premature aging: bad lifestyle.
In the science of rejuvenation (Rasayanas) of Ayurveda, it is therefore claimed that it is possible to remain healthy and vital into old age. For this, you should follow certain positive rules of behaviour (Achara Rasayanas). This includes, for example, “speaking kindly“.
However, it is not only the friendly dialogue on the outside that is important. Our own, inner voice also influences our well-being. One way to make our inner and outer voice gentler is to be grateful – because gratitude cultivates “Sattva” in the mind. In Ayurvedic psychology, Sattva is the mental constitution that embodies purity and balance. In a sattvic mind, harmony, tranquillity, intelligence, peace, humility and knowledge dominate.
Gratitude is thus a way to positively influence our inner attitude. Even Western science is increasingly concerned with the positive effect of gratitude on body and mind. For example, people who appreciate the positive things in their lives are said to suffer less often from depression, addiction or burnout (see “Counting Blessings Versus Burdens: An Experimental Investigation of Gratitude and Subjective Well-Being in Daily Life, Robert A. Emmons University of California, Davis and Michael E. McCullough University of Miam).
Appreciating all the small beautiful things is the first step to integrating more gratitude into one’s life. Such an attitude directs the focus more and more on what we already possess and thus makes us more satisfied. As a small suggestion on how you too can incorporate more gratitude into your everyday life, we have summarised a few ideas for you here:
- When you wake up in the morning and remind yourself of all the things you are grateful for (your family, your home, your work, your friends….), you will start the day with positive energy.
- Be mindful. A beautiful sunrise, a cup of good smelling tea, a delicious meal, a car ride without traffic jams – these are all things to be grateful for. There are countless moments like this every day, you just have to notice them.
- Also focus your attention on what others do for you and thank your fellow human beings more often. To the postman, the waitress or the cashier in the supermarket, every “thank you” makes you and the others a little happier!
- Thank yourself occasionally, too. Thank yourself, for example, for special achievements or for something you have accomplished. Thank yourself for providing yourself with fresh food, for treating your body to a yoga session and for taking care of your health.
We at the Ayurveda Parkschlösschen would like to start by thanking you for reading this article and wish you many happy moments, beautiful experiences and nice people for whom you can be grateful – for more Sattva in your mind.
