Summary
Gratitude is often a word we hear chime in closer to Thanksgiving but adopting gratitude all year round can benefit your health in so many surprising ways.
grat·i·tude
/ˈɡradəˌto͞od/
noun
the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.
Did you know that simply practicing gratitude in your own everyday life directly benefits your mental health? It’s been scientifically proven to be extremely beneficial. It has a number of health benefits from sleep, to health relationships and your own self-esteem.
Benefits to your physical and mental health:
- Lessen depression, anxiety and substance abuse
- More helpful and generous
- Improves sleep
- Improves relationships
- More likely to provide emotional support
- Ability to build resilience to depression
- Improve self-esteem
- Forgive more willingly
- Helps people focus less on social comparison
- Higher alertness, enthusiasm, determination, attentiveness and energy
- Strengthens the immune system
- Helps you experience less pain
Sources: NAMI – https://www.nami.org/family-member-caregivers/when-looking-for-happiness-find-gratitude/
“Acknowledging the good that we already have in our lives is the foundation for all abundance”
Eckhart Tolle
Start your Gratitude Practice
- Write down 3 things that come to mind that you are grateful for and why, Read these 3 things out loud
- Close your eyes and breathe, being here now and showing gratitude for the chair you are sitting in, the breath in your lungs
- Write a Letter of Gratitude to someone in your life
- When you feel low, think of something good in your life, this can help pull you up and out of this sinking feeling
- Do this regularly! Practicing gratitude in regulatory is proven to help. Set a reminder in your phone daily or weekly.
Gratitude Resources
Here are a collection of gratitude practices to consider using as a starting point for you and your household. You’ll notice we collected several links below that can help guide you. There are some printables you can easily print from your computer, meditations, the science behind gratitude, and a playlist that brings gratitude to mind when listening to it.
Doing Good Together: Gratitude Picture Books (Book List)
Articles & Books
Mindful: Five Minutes – Savor the Moment by Tapping into Your Senses
(Meditation 13 mins)
Big Life Journal: Raise Grateful Kids
Celebrations by Maya Angelou
Gratitude is my Superpower by Alicia Ortego (Children’s book)*
The Thankful Book by Todd Parr (Children’s book)*
The Thank You Letter by Jane Cabrera (Children’s book)*
*Available at Valley of the Tetons Library (Driggs/Victor Branch)
Listen
Podcast: Chasing Life – The Benefits of Gratitude (30 mins)
Podcast: Ten Percent Happier – The Science Behind Gratitude (1 hr. 16 mins)
Meditate: Headspace – Appreciation and Gratitude Meditation (11 mins)
Gratitude Event @ VTL Driggs Branch
Join People Spread Love (PSL) and Valley of the Tetons Library Driggs Branch for a gratitude event that encourages incorporating gratitude into your life. You can write a letter of thanks to someone you appreciate or reflect on your own gratitude practice. PSL will provide letter and card writing materials, but feel free to bring your own journal. Prompts will be shared and explained during the event.
This gratitude event is scheduled for Thursday, November 14th at 4:30 – 6 pm at Valley of the Tetons Library Driggs Branch in Driggs, ID.
We invite attendees to bring a journal, a jar from home, and an open heart and mind to cultivating gratitude in their lives.
