Published November 18, 2022
The Power of Gratitude
With Thanksgiving coming up soon, now is a better time than ever to practice gratitude.
Gratitude can have a significantly positive impact on our mental health but why is it so hard to practice it?
Between the violence, natural disasters, and pandemic, it is often easier for us to focus on the negative aspects of our lives. Similarly, we often find it easier to highlight what we do not have- our imperfections and problems. With all that we experience in one day, now is a better time than ever to work a little extra to find the good in ourselves and the world around us.
To be able to receive the benefits of gratitude, we must practice it consistently. In order to do this, we need to find a way to incorporate gratitude in our daily lives. An easy way to do this is by starting a gratitude journal. You can work in prompts like a happy memory, a simple pleasure, or something you are looking forward to.
How do we shift gears to focus on the good while acknowledging that it is still hard for us to feel grateful? Start small.
There are always things to be grateful for even on the darkest of days. Try to identify one good thing- a person, your favorite food, a comfy sweater, or even that you are able to read.
Once you are comfortable with this, try to identify more than one thing to celebrate in your everyday life.
Gratitude doesn’t make our problems disappear, but it helps them feel more manageable.
