For years there has been much deliberation on the topic of gratitude and the benefit it has on a person’s emotional and physical wellbeing. However, recent research has revealed when consistently practicing gratitude steps, a person exhibits a happier affect in addition to many other benefits. This positive outcome is being noted in a person’s emotional, social, career, personality, and overall health.
What is gratitude? Gratitude is taking time out of each day to have positive thoughts. It sounds quite simple and yet many people find it difficult. Life is busy. The noise around us causes chaos and chaos often brings confusion and an over-stimulated mind.
How do we engage in gratitude?
- The first step is carving out time each day to practice gratitude.
- Find at least five to ten minutes each day to take a deep breath and reflect on the things near and far that you are thankful for.
- If you are having difficulty reflecting on gratitude find someone who you trust to help you begin to develop these positive thoughts. This may be a counselor, friend, or family member.
- Say a prayer of gratitude. There are gratitude prayers that you can read, or you can simply pray to share your own genuine thoughts of thankfulness.
- Write a gratitude list on Monday and review it each day that week.
- Journal more about each word on your list exploring your thankfulness in a deeper way.
- Create a gratitude jar and add a thought of thankfulness on a new slip of paper each day. (Children love to do this activity with their family.) Share yours at dinner that night.
- Gratitude Post-Its are a wonderful way to place reminders in places that you will see throughout your day. Add one in your car, bathroom mirror, refrigerator, and workspace.
- Gratitude walks are another activity that families love to do together. As you walk alone or with others take time to look at the things around you and verbally share your thankfulness.
- Listening to songs written with a focus on gratitude and thankfulness is a wonderful way to process the words of a songwriter on this very important topic. See one example below.
Enjoy this beautiful rendition of Josh Groban’s song Thankful sung by Rise Up Children’s Choir.
“Thankful” by Josh Groban (An excerpt from the lyrics)
Somedays we forget
To look around us
Somedays we can’t see
The joy that surrounds us
So caught up inside ourselves
We take when we should give.
So for tonight we pray for
What we know can be.
And on this day we hope for
What we still can’t see.
It’s up to us to be the change
And even though we all can still do more
There’s so much to be thankful for.
What are the health benefits?
- A reduction in depression
- Healthier social relationships
- Less aches and pains reported
- An increase in empathy and sensitivity toward others
- Improved duration and quality of sleep
- Increased self esteem
- Increased level of resistance when faced with challenging situations
For more information on the health benefits visit https://positivepsychology.com/benefits-of-gratitude/
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