“I was complaining that I had no shoes till I met a man who had no feet.”
— Confucius
How often have we started our day with feelings of dread, or of some minor complaint because something didn’t go the way we had hope?
I have been reflecting on gratitude and why it’s so important to our mental health, especially during the holidays. I am reminded of a time in my life, not too long ago, when I couldn’t find the breath to breathe but sallow breaths with a racing heart; my mind so paralyzed with fear, thoughts cycled faster than a hamster on a wheel. One valuable tool I learned through the years of dealing with panic is the practice of gratitude. We can always find something to be grateful for.
So what is this thing called gratitude you ask? It is waking up every morning, or going to bed every night, with something that makes you grateful, something you are thankful for. Maybe your life challenges are so tough it’s hard to see anything grateful? But. You are here. You are alive today. You took a breath. You have sight. The list can go on. And, that’s more than some have.
How is this good for our mental and physical health?
It reduces depression
Helps you feel peaceful
Helps you sleep better
It strengthens your heart
It boosts your brain
How do we practice this?
Here are a few ways:
Watch videos: Filmmaker Louie Schwarzberg explores the many sides of being thankful in 15 gorgeous videos.
Start a journal. You can buy a notebook or a journal from a favorite store. If you want to be high tech you can use a gratitude app: This iOS app offers daily prompts to get you in the habit of expressing what you’re thank for. The apps encourage you to write at least five good things daily, add photos, and rate the day.
Make a gratitude jar. Fill it with a ripped piece of paper every night with something you are grateful for, or post your gratitude on the gratitude jar and share with others.
It’s like a garden, we plant seeds and water, and the seeds take root. Over time the seeds grow into beautiful flowers!
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