There is some evidence that being grateful can make us healthier. What a SIMPLE concept! In fact, in one article written by Susan Allen, Ph.D., she poses the theory that grateful people are healthier, and healthy people are more grateful. It would seem, then, there is a connection between good health and being grateful. So, in the spirit of the season, here are 5 SIMPLE ways to make gratitude a part of our lifestyle, thus making us healthier:
1) Be thankful for our health: Our health is with us every waking moment of every day. It has a tremendous impact on our mood, our energy, and our motivation. Yet, how often do we set it aside like a forgotten pet, hoping it survives the day as we starve it or fuel it with poor choices. When something that is living is neglected, it can’t thrive. Our health is alive inside us. When we cherish our health, it can thrive.The gift of our health is very much a part of us and deserves to be cherished.
2) Acts of kindness: We hear this phrase, and probably have wondered how it can make us feel more grateful. I’ve tried it a couple of times when I am having a particularly trying day or moment. There is a change in how I feel as soon as I do something kind for someone else without any preconceived planning or expectation of a result. Recently, I was having a rocky morning, and decided I couldn’t show up at school in the mood I was. I went through the Starbucks drive through, not for the sole purpose of getting a coffee for myself, but to pay it forward. Just that simple act of buying somebody else’s coffee and hopefully making their day a little brighter, completely changed my outlook. I arrived at school in a much better state of mind and ready to face my students with a positive attitude. The best part is, I expected nothing in return, not even recognition. But the feeling I had was so worth it, I didn’t NEED anything in return.
3) Look for the silver lining: Life is full of experiences, good, bad and ugly. We don’t always enjoy the ride, and it’s not always easy. But when we can walk away with a new lesson or new appreciation for something, it makes it all worth it. When I was 15, money was tight at home. So, I started working to help out. As a result, I wasn’t able to participate in sports or extracurriculars. Are there days I wished I had been able to participate in sports? Sure. But the lessons I learned entering the workforce at such a young age have been just as valuable to me. I learned to treat everyone with respect because we don’t know their story. I worked in fast food and although I consider myself fairly intelligent, there were many who assumed, since I was working fast food, I wasn’t smart. The disrespect was hard to take, especially when customer service was a priority. ‘The customer is always right’ scenario isn’t easy when you are being degraded by someone who assumes you must be dumb because of where you choose to work. But I had goals and ambitions and knew that was where I would need to start to achieve those. Achieving those goals and learning to be empathetic is something I am grateful for every day.
4) Spend time with people we love: In the book, Tuesdays with Morrie, Morrie, the man telling his story from his deathbed, reiterates over and over the human need for connections to others. It’s these connections with other people that make us feel joy. The more meaningful the connection, the more joy we will experience. Think about those you feel the most connected to, the ones you choose to spend time with. It’s probably not what you do as much as how you feel while you’re with them that brings joy.
5) Volunteer: Volunteering as a coach for our local Special Olympics team has brought me more gratitude than I could have imagined! Our track and field practices filled with laughter and fun. Working with athletes with disabilities helps me stay focused on the little things that really matter. It is the SIMPLE things that matter. Ending our practices with the athlete’s oath and then shouting our team’s name is the highlight of every practice. Seeing their faces and watching their jubilation at even the tiniest accomplishment makes my heart full. This also makes me grateful for my health, knowing that there are those born with disabilities who tirelessly overcome every day. How humbling.
When we start to see our health as something to be grateful for, our lifestyle takes on a much deeper meaning. It becomes a personal conviction. We start to analyze the things we do, and the things we eat, and the people we spend time with. Healthy choices start to take precedence as we learn to be grateful for our health.
https://www.webmd.com/women/features/gratitute-health-boost#1https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/is_gratitude_good_for_your_health
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These are my opinions and not meant to take the place of professional advice.