The Many Gifts of Gratitude

Gratitude is a life changing ability. It can turn you from cranky pants into superhuman in five minutes flat.I’ve written a lot about gratitude because I do really believe it is a superpower if we harness it correctly especially now. Having a positive attitude and mindset is crucial for getting through this time of quarantine. Being thankful for the sun shining to having a roof over our heads and food in our fridge is huge at this point. Cultivating that thankfulness helps us be in a more positive mindset to deal with the rest of what is going on in the world at this time.

Scientists have done research to measure the effects of positive thinking on our health and guess what? Positive thinking benefits your health by lowering rates of depression and stress, increasing resistance to the common cold, better psychological and physical well-being, and better coping skills during hardships and periods of stress (Mayo Clinic article).

So making gratitude a concrete and consistent part of your life at this time looks like it will have many positive outcomes. Ways to do this might be a gratitude journal, listing 3 things you are grateful for on Facebook or Instagram every day, or sharing around your dinner table each night what you are grateful for. Thinking about what you are grateful for each night before you go to sleep or as you wake up in the morning have also been effective ways to increase your gratitude. (Tape a note to your nightstand to remind you!)