Thanksgiving is just a couple of weeks away and before you know it, it will be Christmas. And, although most everyone loves the Christmas season, I would like to suggest we “pause” our thoughts of Christmas for a week or two and focus on Thanksgiving, as a season of “gratitude”
Research has shown the Thanksgiving season can actually lift our spirits and promote our feelings of gratefulness. Gratitude is thankful appreciation for what an individual receives, whether that be tangible or intangible. With gratitude, people acknowledge the goodness in their lives and acknowledge goodness comes from another source, be it God, people, environment, or the world we live in.
Research has shown gratitude is strongly associated with happiness. That is why it is suggested we incorporate gratitude in our daily lives. Gratitude helps us refocus on what we have instead of what we lack and helps us appreciate those things. The more we practice gratitude, the easier it gets identifying the things we are grateful for and our mental state grows stronger and more positive. People who practice gratitude regularly report having more positive emotions, enjoying experiences more, improvement in health, dealing with adversity, and building strong relationships.
So you may ask, what are some ways I can begin to practice gratitude? There are lots! I incorporate gratitude in my life by to identifying 3-5 things each morning that I am grateful for to God. Everyone has blessings in their life, even when things are hard. Identifying those blessings trains your mind to be more positive. And, it’s important to try to identify new things each day, too. We could say we are grateful for our family, house, jobs, etc. each day, but try to dive a little deeper each day. One of the interesting things I have noticed as I have gotten better at this, is that I have I transitioned from more materialistic things to more non-materialistic things. Set a couple of minutes aside before you get out of bed, while you are drinking a cup of coffee, or even driving to make the practice of gratitude a habit.
And, don’t forget to practice gratitude with the people in your life. All too often we take for granted our loved ones, friends, and our coworkers. Commit to telling someone each day that you are “thankful” for them. If doing these things is a little “too much” for you all at once, you can practice gratitude by mentally thanking someone who has done something nice for you.
Writing a thank-you note or email expressing your enjoyment and appreciation of that person’s impact on your life is another way to make yourself happier and nurture your relationship with another person. Consider even sending a gratitude note once a month to different people thanking them for doing something they have done for you.
Keeping a gratitude journal is another great way to practice gratitude. Write in a journal or share with someone the gifts/blessings you are thankful for. Perhaps if practicing gratitude each day is too much of a commitment to start with, pick a time and day each week to sit down and write about your blessings, reflecting on what went right that you are grateful for and the good feelings you experienced.
Mindfulness meditation is also a good way to focus on the present moment without judgement. For example, you might be grateful for things like the warmth of the sun, the gentle breeze of wind, the sounds of rain, birds, music, or even the sounds of children playing, or the people we love. Praying to God is also a wonderful way to also experience gratefulness and gratitude by thanking Him for all of our many blessings.
I hope this Thanksgiving season brings good health and happiness and an opportunity for everyone to express their gratitude.
Adapted from:
- www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/giving-thanks-can-make-you-happier, Giving Thanks Can Make you Happier, August 14, 2021.
