Practicing Gratitude

10/9/2019

As the Thanksgiving weekend approaches, many of us are dreaming of turkey, pumpkin pie and quality time spent with family and friends. Holidays provide the perfect opportunity to reflect on all that we are thankful for - but what if we all made a conscious effort to practice gratitude on a daily basis?

The key word is “practise”. Gratitude, like most skills, takes time to develop - and, like most skills, it’s worth the effort. Choosing to be grateful on a daily basis will eventually train your brain to search for gratitude automatically. It can be as simple as thanking someone when they hold the door for you, or writing in a journal before bed. Read more about how to create a “gratitude routine”.

Why is it important to practise gratitude? It actually makes you healthier. Even in challenging times, remembering to be grateful for what we have or what is going well can improve feelings of happiness. Many studies have found a link between gratitude and overall well-being. According to an article from Harvard Health, “gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.” Grateful people are more likely to take care of their physical health and to feel generally happier.

I plan to take the time to acknowledge the things that I am grateful for this Thanksgiving weekend, and I encourage you and your family to do the same. Hopefully, we can all carry this “attitude of gratitude” - and the boost it provides to our well-being - with us throughout the school year.

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Practicing Gratitude

Greenwood College School