A Non-Cheesy Take On Gratefulness
Hello November, I can't believe we are already here! This month every year gets me thinking more-so about gratitude. Personally I know this to be the case for me as it's the month our first born came into the world, making me a mother for the first time and the month we get to celebrate Thanksgiving (cue Adam Sandler's "Thanksgiving song".) Thanksgiving is HANDS DOWN MY MOST FAVORITE HOLIDAY but I digress.
I do realize that each holiday season can come with high expectations for a cozy and festive time of year. I also realize that for many, this time of year is tinged with sadness, anxiety, or depression. Certainly, major depression or a severe anxiety disorder benefits most from professional help. But what about those who just feel lost or overwhelmed or down at this time of year? Research (and common sense) suggests that one aspect of the Thanksgiving season can actually lift the spirits, and it's built right into the holiday — being grateful.
I don't think it's any surprise or "new news" to know that being grateful can have a profound effect on our mental and physical wellbeing. In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.1
We can feel and express gratitude in multiple ways. We can apply it to the past (retrieving positive memories and being thankful for elements of childhood or past blessings), the present (not taking good fortune for granted as it comes), and the future (maintaining a hopeful and optimistic attitude). Regardless of the inherent or current level of our gratitude, it's a quality that we can successfully cultivate further. I'm not here to tell you how to best cultivate gratitude but some examples are: gratitude journals, thank you cards, prayer, meditation etc. Or you could simply adopt my Thanksgiving attitude which is "gratitude is like gravy - put in on everything." Mmmmmmm gravy.....ok that's enough of that. 🤤
Ultimately, gratitude is a thankful appreciation for what we receive, whether tangible or intangible. With gratitude, we acknowledge the goodness in our lives. In the process, we usually recognize that the source of that goodness lies at least partially outside ourselves. As a result, being grateful also helps us connect to something larger than ourselves as individuals — whether to other people, nature, or a higher power. Lastly, having and cultivating a grateful attitude no matter what time of the year, can have a huge positive impact on our health.
Know that when I'm often taking inventory of what I'm grateful for at the end of each day, that YOU (yes you if you made it this far) is on my list. I am SO GRATEFUL to have you as part of my Precision family. 🙏
1. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/329562527_Positive_Psychology_A_Personal_History