Gratitude is More Than Just Saying Thanks

Thanksgiving is known primarily as a gathering of extended family around a feast. It is a family holiday more than a celebration of an event. It prompted me to more carefully consider the benefits of gratitude:

• Gratitude turns what little you have into abundance.
• Gratitude is so much more than saying thank you.
• Gratitude changes your perspective of your world.

Gratitude is both a state of being and a personality trait. For too much of my life I did not feel or show gratitude, and that led to a feeling of negativity, resentment, and anger.

Too often we think in material terms and are grateful for what we have, rather than who we are. Goodness comes to us in many forms, through other people and happy experiences. When we focus on positive thoughts, it affects our behavior. Gratitude is strongly related to wellbeing.

Buddhists express gratitude through meditation, Jews through traditions and rituals, and Christians through prayer.

It is hard to be grateful when our life has been hard or difficult or we haven’t fulfilled our expectations. We become envious of the rich, famous, and successful even though they may carry burdens of their own. It is more than just an emotion; it is an attitude or a mindset. Our gratitude shows that we don’t just take the good things that have happened to us for granted.

My comments are adapted from PositivePsychology.com.

The Mayo Clinic says that expressing gratitude is associated with a host of mental and physical benefits. Studies have shown that feeling thankful can improve sleep, mood, and immunity. You need to express gratitude daily to see any change. Remember that behavior changes biology. Positive gestures benefit you by releasing oxytocin, a hormone that helps connect people. In addition to expressing gratitude to others, it helps to write your thoughts down. You can go back and review them to bring back happy thoughts when you’re feeling down.

Speaking in a positive frame of reference helps you feel good. It becomes a virtuous circle. Practicing Thanksgiving more than just one day a year pays back in many ways.

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