Nobody Talks About This Secret To Happiness

I was reading some articles about the ongoing mental health crisis in today’s youth.

One question just didn’t sit right with me:

How are suicide and depression rates sky-high when we’re living in the best time to be alive?

Lifespan longevity, access to information and services, human connection, and more have improved exponentially over the last decades.

And yet, while bloody wars on the battlefield have nearly ceased to exist, it feels like the battle’s moved to another subtler field…

The MIND.

From an outsider's perspective, it doesn’t make sense why mental illnesses are so normal today.

“How could things like anxiety, depression, and ADHD be so common compared to 100 years ago?”

“Why are we suffering mentally when the physical realm is all but taken care of?”

“If there are so many mental health initiatives taken today, why is it still so prevalent?”

Those are the questions I’ve been thinking about lately, and which inspired me to write this to you.

And I think I have the near-perfect answer to all of them.

I took a deep dive through mainstream news articles to formal research papers about the mystery behind skyrocketing mental health issues.

From real-world data and graphs to random scientific mumbo jumbo…

A recurring theme came into play.

There’s a certain mindfulness practice that feels forgotten about today.

It’s a trait as rare to find in most people as digging up a 24-carat diamond from your local playground’s sand pit.

But a trait as easy to cultivate as breathing and walking.

I’m talking about GRATITUDE.

The practice of appreciating the things you have in your own life.

Gratitude, like everything else, is a skill you can learn and improve in.

Not only does it increase:

• Lifespan

• Likeability

• Attractiveness

• Trustworthiness

It decreases a psychological concept known as negative affectivity.

In layman’s terms, it’s a range of negative emotions, such as sadness, anxiety, anger, and guilt, that people experience in response to stressors or trauma.

Think of it like an all-in-one package that makes everything in your life better while helping you cope during rough hardships.

No joke, it’s a skill with 0% downsides and 100% upsides!

This ties back to the epidemic of global mental health in the way that everyone is too caught up with their day-to-day.

Too often we find ourselves seemingly on autopilot most of the time…

And too little we find ourselves taking in the good things in our current reality.

Instead of adopting an “always-looking-for-the-next-thing” mindset, deconstruct your situation with gratitude to start living in life’s beautiful colors.

And how can you develop this skill?

Gratitude journaling.

You’ve read about the power of journaling last time, now it’s time to explore the power of journaling about the things you’re grateful for.

Here’s a beginner’s guide to gratitude journaling that you can use anywhere, anytime today:

1. Follow steps 1-3 from the beginner’s guide to journaling

2. Write the date

3. Let your mind wander about things you can be grateful for

4. Think about the following example questions:

   1. What are you thankful for?

   2. Who are you glad is in your life?

   3. What good act deserves a thank you?

5. Write anything you can be grateful for in either full sentences or jotted notes

It may feel a little awkward at first but after 3-4 days of practice and effort, you can easily find reasons to be grateful for the smallest things.

“I’m grateful for this t-shirt.”

“I’m grateful for today’s breakfast.”

“I’m grateful for the sun.”

Try not to write the same thing down twice, either.

It’s better to practice being grateful for as many different things as possible.

It’ll keep variety and help you find appreciation for things you didn’t even know existed.

And there’s one thing for certain that I know after staying consistent with this…

Gratitude is THE number one counter to the ongoing mental health crisis.

How?

It teaches you to develop an appreciation for literally everything in your life.

There’s absolutely no limit to the number of things you can be grateful for.

And if there’s no ceiling to anything you can be grateful for…

Nothing’s stopping you from being grateful…

And living in a state of appreciation…

For the rest of your life.

You heard me right, gratitude can transform your entire worldview in the blink of an eye.

And this doesn’t just apply to POSITIVE things or events either!

Learning to be grateful for hardships and negative experiences is one of the most powerful abilities to learn.

It removes you from the victimhood mentality and empowers you to a consciousness of self-acceptance and self-accountability.

I truly wish the skill of gratitude for you.

As outlandish as this sounds, you can turn your entire life around with this practice.

But it’s not just enough for me to tell these words to you.

Action is of the essence!

But you might still be wondering to yourself:

“Okay, now I know exactly what I can do to improve my life with these guides…but I STILL just can’t find a way to start.”

And this leads us to yet another problem that is almost 100% subconscious.

It’s where the phrase “spinning your wheels” comes from.

Next time, I’ll be sharing my insights about how you can pause or even STOP autopilot mode.

So you can start living with intention and purpose with a well-constructed plan.

Talk soon!

With thankfulness and pleasure,

Meg :)

P.S. Here are some of my typical journaling prompts (haven’t forgotten about them for you just yet!)

1. Reflect on a recent challenge you faced. How did it make you feel, and what lessons did you learn from it?

2. Describe a moment of pure joy or happiness you experienced recently. What led to that moment, and how did it impact you?

3. Write about a goal or aspiration you have for yourself. What steps can you take to work towards achieving it?

4. Explore a place or environment that inspires you. Describe its sights, sounds, and how it makes you feel.

5. Reflect on a person who has had a significant influence on your life. How have they shaped your perspective or contributed to your personal growth?

6. Write about a book, movie, or artwork that deeply resonated with you. What about it spoke to you, and what emotions did it evoke?

7. Explore your relationship with self-care. What practices or activities do you engage in to nurture your well-being, and how do they impact your overall happiness?

8. Recall a time when you stepped out of your comfort zone. What did you learn from that experience, and how did it contribute to your personal development?

9. Write a letter to your future self, reflecting on your hopes, dreams, and aspirations. What advice would you give to your future self?

10. Reflect on a recent moment of gratitude. What or who are you grateful for, and how does expressing gratitude impact your perspective on life?