The Miraculous Benefits of Gratitude

We often overlook gratitude in the consumerism-obsessed culture of our modern day. We get so caught up in the stuff we want to possess, we forget to acknowledge our fortune in the stuff we already possess–whether it’s tangible belongings, experiences, relationships or character qualities.

It’s a shame, though, because scientific study after scientific study has shown that gratitude is one of the healthiest habits we could develop for our overall well-being. Gratitude is worth the investment of our thoughts.

As many of us gear up for the Thanksgiving season, it’s easy to get distracted by the atrocities committed by my forefathers against people groups who were already at home on American soil. We certainly should take a moment to ponder these atrocities so our voices can ensure similar atrocities don’t happen again. While doing so, we can still find value in the overall theme of giving thanks that accompanies that problematic heritage.

The act of displaying gratitude to an entity outside of ourselves requires us to, first of all, get out of our heads and interact with something external. That’s why gratitude is so often prescribed to those with depression and/or anxiety. It often allows us to break free from self-defeating thoughts.

While we break free, we consider those things in our lives that are going well. Additionally, we acknowledge that what’s going well is the product of some benevolent outside entity (whether a person, a deity, nature or some mysterious cosmic force). By acknowledging external benevolence, we open our minds up to a hope that such benevolence outside of our control is just as possible as negative occurrences that are outside of our control.

Gratitude is at the core of “The Science of Well-Being” online course that I took over the summer. While for some, thoughts of Thanksgiving might invite anxiety over travel woes and widening ideological divisions among family members, it can be a chance to acknowledge that for which we can be grateful.

What if you took five minutes each day to list out sources of gratitude? While taking the summer course, I did this for a few consecutive days, and I can attest that it does make a difference. I found my outlook to be more optimistic, my energy levels to be higher and my overall enjoyment of the day to be more sustained. Give it a try!

Use either a designated gratitude journal or the Notes app on your phone, set a five-minute timer and list everything for which you’re thankful during that time period. Make a conscious effort throughout your day to see if you feel any different. Do that for at least seven consecutive days and then determine if it’s worth continuing that practice.

Gratitude, for many, has become a secret weapon for success. Meditate on the concept this week and see if it holds value for your overall mindset.