The definition of gratitude is, “the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and return to kindness.” It is derived from the Latin word, gratia, which means grace, graciousness or gratefulness.
With Thanksgiving right around the corner, for many families in the U.S. this means a time of taking turns around the dinner table and sharing all the things that we are thankful for. Showing gratitude is a wonderful practice that has many benefits, but should it only be practiced once a year?
Evidence shows that being grateful all year round can lead to better health and well-being! According to Robert A. Emmons, Ph.D and leading scientific expert on gratitude, he describes gratitude as an affirmation of goodness. We affirm that there are good things in the world (and in our lives), even though we know that life isn’t perfect. Emmons reports that expressing our gratitude has many benefits which include:
Physical: stronger immune system, exercise more, take better care of health, sleep longer and feel more refreshed and report lower blood pressure and less bothered by aches and pains.
Psychological: higher levels of positive emotions and self-wroth, more alert, alive and awake, more joy, pleasure, optimism and happiness and a decrease of negative emotions such as envy, resentment and regret.
Social: more helpful, generous and compassionate, more forgiving, more outgoing, and feel less lonely and isolated.
The evidence is clear; gratitude improves our lives in many ways, so why aren’t we practicing this beneficial skill on a regular basis? Well for one, who’s got time for that? The answer is, we all do! Expressing gratitude can be quick and easy and can be done in many different ways. Below are some suggestions on how you can continue to express gratitude well beyond this holiday season:
Keep a Gratitude Journal: This can mean writing down 3-5 things daily or weekly for which you are grateful for.
Start a Gratitude Jar: Keep a jar in your kitchen and every time your heart feels grateful, write it down and put it in the jar. On a sluggish day or at the end of the year, you’ll be able to look through your notes and remember all of your blessings.
Start a Family Tradition: Every time you gather around your dinner table, take turns as a family and list one thing that each of you are grateful for.
Tell People: Tell people your appreciation for them. Express your gratitude for the people in your life. Tell them, write them or send them a text.
Make your mental health a priority. You don’t have to get through difficult times on your own. You can find me at www.wholeisticyou.com or reach me by email at hello@wholeisticyou.com