I recently got an iPhone, it’s awesome. One of the best things about the iPhone is all the “apps” you can have. Apps are different pieces of software that allow you to interact with different topics you might be interested in. They range in everything from checking your stocks to managing your weight. You can check your Facebook or Twitter or you can even find the closest restroom or most fabulous restaurant. My current favorite group of apps have to do with gratitude.
Did you know that expressing gratitude is scientifically proven to increase your happiness? Recent psychological research shows that gratitude plays a significant role in our happiness, our healthy adjustment to life, and even in our physical well-being. It allows you to bring into your conscious awareness the good things that are happening in your life on a day to day basis, and with repetition, will take your focus off of what you perceive as the negative aspects of any situation.
There are two apps that I love that are encouraging me to be more grateful in my day to day life. The first one is Gratitude Stream which allows you to share something your are grateful for with other people that also have the app. It’s cool because reading the things that other people are grateful for makes me feel good, too. It’s really an inspiring exchange of energy.
The other app I love is Gratitude Journal. This is a very cute app. It allows you to write all the things you are grateful for on any given day, you can rate your day up to 5 stars, and you can add a photo that captures your day.
Both apps have the option of giving you an inspiring quote. This is the one I got today:
“You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestations of your own blessing. And once you have achieved a state of happiness, you must never become lax about maintaining it, you must make a mighty effort to keep swimming upward-into that happiness forever.” -Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat, Pray, Love)
Even if you don’t have access to apps, you can start your own gratitude journal. Just write down 5 things a day that you are grateful for, it will change your life.