We live in stressful times and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Combating stress is a skill that we can learn in order to maximize quality of life. One of the most effective ways to do this is through cognitive redirection and focusing on positives rather than negatives. Acknowledging good fortune in our lives and not allowing problems and setbacks to dominate our outlook is an important and simple way to deal with stress.

Many times it’s just easier to be ungrateful about the things we do not have instead of being grateful for the positive things we have been dealt or what we have achieved. These positive parts of our lives are often overlooked and taken for granted until some sort of disaster hits. All too often we can forget about having a roof over our heads, a warm bed and even a hot shower. Once we can identify those things for which we have to be grateful for, we have the perfect exercise for positive thinking, and it could actually change our feelings towards stress as well as balancing out the related effects.

The factors causing stress are many, but it is defined as a state where an individual is not in equilibrium with their individual surroundings. It is known to us now that the distinction between both body and mind is of limited usefulness. Negative thoughts are able to have an affect on the body, just as trauma can affect the mind. Experiences of stress prompting negative emotions may have a direct affect when it comes to body chemistry. In response to any threat or stress, our bodies produce hormones and other chemicals, such as adrenalin and cortisol.

We are fortunate enough to have the opposite apply as well. Any calm environment and/or positive thoughts are able to combat both the physical and mental effects of stress. Taking a little time out of every day to concentrate on the positive – even a small period of time as little as five minutes – you can easily separate yourself from stressors and their effects.

The need to recognize those bursts of good fortune can have a radical effect on our perspective. Problems have a tendency to cast a dark cloud so to speak over the parts of our lives that are going well and distorting our perspective on things. Let’s take for example that sense of panic we feel when tasks are uncompleted instead of giving ourselves some praise over what we did accomplish. When the period of stress is prolonged or extended, it is entirely possible for us to develop unhealthy patterns of jumping automatically to a negative conclusion. By focusing on those things that make us happy is a very powerful technique we can use to overcome that pattern of thinking negatively, thereby reducing stress as well as giving a boost to the immune system.

It may initially be difficult to identify those particular things you have to be grateful for, especially if you are already stressed, tense and can’t see the forest for the trees. Take time to practice, and start with easy things such as a sunny day, or a new rose on your bushes. You will more than likely rely on hindsight to start, but with time and a little effort you will notice it becoming easier.

While training yourself to recognize the many reasons you have to be grateful, the amount of time you spend taking things for granted will lessen dramatically. Seeing that flower blooming will trigger the recognition for seeing the reasons for celebration. As this appreciation integrates into your daily routine and functionality you can, and will discover how this process will reinforce positive thinking as well as your capacity to deal with stress.

About the Author:
Using gratitude to reduce stress can become a regular part of your day. Visit the Gratitude Circle Blog for tips for positive thinking and making gratitude an important part of your life. While you’re there, claim your free subscription to the Gratitude Circle Newsletter, full of inspiring stories, articles and tips for maintaining a happier, more fulfilling life.

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