In the age of consumerism, where what you have is never enough, can make you feel ungrateful at every turn in life. This feeling of wanting more that capitalism has embedded in each and every one of us is a dangerous feeling. Not only to the people’s financial security but also to the mental well-being of everyone out there. Why? Feeling like you do not have enough can lead to feelings of insecurity and low self-esteem. These two feelings are the primary culprits in inducing feelings of worthlessness. So how does one counter these? By practicing gratitude.

Practicing gratitude is no easy feat. It takes practice and it takes resilience. No one can wake up one day and decide that they will practice gratitude. Instead, it takes effort. Because humans are born with a negativity bias, meaning they tend to focus on the bad in their life. Hence, challenging this innate bias is difficult, to say the least. How can one practice gratitude? Grounding. This is a technique that helps bring back one’s focus to the present. Their surroundings, the sounds, and scenarios around them; right in that very moment. There are several ways to achieve grounding.

Getty Images/EyeEm/Natalie Board

The most common ones are meditation and deep breathing. Mediation is a more elaborate version of deep breathing, whereby the focus is not only on one’s breathing but also on the posture of the person. Breathing exercises can be performed anywhere and in any position, whether you are about to fall asleep or you are sitting in a library. It helps bring back your attention to the present, allowing you to look around you, and reflect on your life. It helps you see the good in your life since your mind is not wandering about the past or the future. It is all about the present and everything good about the present!