Attitude of Gratitude

By: June Owens

Tis the season to be thankful and many of us use Thanksgiving as the one day a year we make gratitude a focus. We all know that being thankful supports our emotional health and can help us be more resilient when dealing with life stressors. Most of us have learned that focusing on gratitude also improves our social interactions and helps in our professional lives. But did you know there are many actual physical health benefits related to having an attitude of gratitude? Robert Emmons, psychology professor at University of California Davis, has spent decades researching gratitude and recently shared research trials that prove a positive impact for blood pressure and overall heart health, improvement of immune function, decrease in overall aches and pains, and even better sleep.

Knowing the benefits is just the beginning. We often get so swept away in the fast lane of life that being thankful is placed on the back burner. It must start with intentionality and continue with determination. Write it in your planner and make time to cultivate it often. Our brains are powerful tools and after a while, gratitude will simply be part of who we are and all that we do. But for today, here’s a few ideas to kick off the journey.

• Thank Someone … Write a simple note to share how someone has had a positive impact in your life each week. Gratitude stems from more than ourselves. We must develop and recognize a humble dependence on others and all that they provide in helping us walk life’s path.
• Journal … Take time to intentionally write down and reflect on what went right each day. Putting pen to paper forces us to intentionally focus on the words we are writing. Gratitude doesn’t mean life is always going to be perfect, it just means we’re going to focus on and affirm the positives all around us. They are there and more readily seen when we truly seek them.
• Visioning … Daydreaming with a purpose is seeing what you are thankful for in the future, next month or even next year, and sharing that. It’s like the switch on an engine, getting things going. Practicing this visualization technique will help energize and empower you and those around you.
• Volunteer … Simply put, helping others helps us. When we give back to others in our communities, we are often more appreciative of what we have and develop a greater perspective on our own situations. And being a positive impact in someone else’s life – well that’s just one more reason for us to be thankful. Did you know that thousands of volunteers are needed every year to support the YMCA’s purpose? Find out how you can get started in helping the Miami Valley be better, stronger, and safer at https://www.daytonymca.org/volunteer-opportunities.
• Pay it Forward … Keep a jar of change left in your pocket at the end of each day. When the jar gets full, use the money to purchase Starbucks gift cards to leave at a college campus during finals week or pay for the meal ordered by the card behind you in the drive thru line. Gratitude is contagious and you may find that you’ve started a chain reaction.

So, while it’s nice to count your blessings on Thanksgiving, being thankful throughout the year has long-lasting impacts. It really is an underutilized tool in taking control of a positive and more healthy, happy life. And remember … feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.