8 Little Things That We Should Be Grateful For Everyday

I love this amazing article, by Lindsay Holmes, on HuffingtonPost. It makes you stop and slow down for a second and seriously think about what makes you happy-and they really are the little things that we need to pay more attention to and appreciate. Here's a few to take a look at:

A good conversation. The old-fashioned heart-to-heart — a deep conversation where listening is practiced just as much as talking — is a lost art these days. Too often we're bogged down by small talk, despite the fact that a lot of us are averse to it. Try asking the bigger questions the next time you find yourself in conversation with a close friend — and appreciate the bonding time that comes as a result.

A big hug. We tend to shrug hugs off as soon as they happen — but those embraces have a multitude of feel-good benefits that we should take the time to enjoy. Hugs release oxytocin in the body, the happy hormone in charge of creating those warm and fuzzy feelings. Studies have shown hugs can also lower blood pressure and promote heart health.

Honesty. Authenticity is a coveted characteristic, but one that's often overlooked. It's best to appreciate when someone shows you their true nature. You can either learn from what they have to say or learn why your personalities aren't the best fit. Being genuine also allows us (and others) to share thoughts with the world, which can lead to greater meaning. “When you have thought through what you think, what you feel, what's important to you and why it's important to you, that determines a certain sense of purpose and directive,” clinical psychologist Guy Winch, Ph.D., previously told HuffPost Healthy Living. “We all have these operational directives — we just don't necessarily articulate them to ourselves. But if we look back on our behavior and examine what we do, why we do it, what we think, why we think it, we can figure out the principles that are driving us.”

Click below to see the rest of this great list:

8 Little Things That We Should Be Grateful For Everyday