As Thanksgiving approaches, you’re probably thinking about all the things you have to be grateful for this year. This holiday is often our reminder of all the blessings in our lives…even if the year has been a tough one. For many, gratitude has either been an incredibly easy or an overwhelmingly difficult thing for the past couple of years.
With a pandemic, racial justice issues, climate change, financial crises, food insecurity, gender equality, and so much more, learning how gratitude fits into your “new normal” may feel daunting. Here’s what we recommend if you’re struggling this year or just want to remind yourself how to focus on appreciation and thankfulness.
What is Gratitude?
Gratitude is the ability to recognize the goodness in your life. This “goodness” could be due to your surroundings, the actions of another person or group of people, opportunities you’ve been given, or your own hard work. Being grateful is a virtuous quality that provides you the ability to see the best in other people and in your own life.
Why is Gratitude Important?
Just like Scrooge and the Grinch exist for Christmas, there are some people who have difficulty with Thanksgiving and gratitude. If you’re feeling especially down in the dumps about your circumstances this year, you’re not alone. The holidays often stir up a lot of emotions for people. However, it’s important to remember that practicing gratitude regularly is instrumental in becoming more optimistic.
When you recognize what you have (even if it feels insignificant now), you help to boost your overall mood and perspective. When you express how thankful you are during challenging times, and recognize the goodness of life, then you can help to calm your fear and anxiety during an uncertain situation.
Gratitude During 2021 and 2022
In the past couple of years, you’ve likely experienced more prolonged uncertainty about your health, job, and loved ones than you ever have before. As you confront all of the difficulty that comes with that, show gratitude for what you have and what you can control.
Research shows that positive emotions like gratitude are connected to health and wellness. Cultivating an attitude of gratefulness allows you to build resilience. One study of 118 adults found that simply being grateful resulted in significantly fewer physical health problems. These included:
- Sleep disturbances
- Headaches
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Respiratory infections
Showing appreciation creates an upward spiral in your life and allows you to cope with uncertainty when it arises. Believe it or not, a study of 997 survivors of the SAR epidemic found that the recovered individuals were more resilient. They were more resilient, had better social support, and experienced less SARS-related worry. In other words, simply being more grateful can help improve your outcome should you contract COVID-19.
Final Thoughts
Practicing gratitude may feel like an upward battle after the past couple of years, but don’t let it intimidate you. We recommend starting small and trying one of the following ways. Write a thank-you note, text, or email to someone you have noticed going above and beyond in your life lately. Tell someone verbally that you appreciate them in your life. Or make gratitude a part of your daily life by starting a gratitude journal.
You’ve got this! Use the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday to start your gratitude journey, and then keep it going.
If you’re interested in scheduling an appointment or you’d like more information, please call us at 1-844-QLC-TALK (1-844-752-8255) or email us here.
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