Gratitude Can Change the World
According to the National Library of Medicine, gratitude has been proven to be positively correlated with life satisfaction.
When people are more grateful, they have a better outlook on life. Imagine how much brighter a life full of positivity and appreciation would be compared to a life full of complaining and frustration.
Gratitude can take on many different meanings and forms. It can be a way to express appreciation or focus on what is good and valuable in life. Gratitude can be a state you live in all of the time or a choice you make from moment to moment. It is important that we show gratitude in all areas of our lives. Maybe gratitude comes easiest to us when we are with our family, or maybe it is more natural for us to thank our bosses or coworkers.
Imagine what this world would look like without gratitude. No one would receive a “thank you” when they choose to serve another person. Veterans would not be acknowledged for protecting our country, teachers would have no idea if their work is making a difference, there would be complete silence in restaurants when the waiter puts food in front of you, peoples’ mindsets would be constantly pessimistic, and no one would know if they are truly valued or appreciated. Now, imagine a world full of gratitude. Veterans could go to sleep knowing that their work is valued, teachers would see the great influence they have on their students, people would be full of smiles and positivity, and everyone would know the extent to which they are loved and valued by those around them. Which world would you choose?
The practice of gratitude can change the world that we live in.
Along with increasing happiness and life satisfaction, being thankful can also help improve people’s health, relationships, and ability to deal with hardship, according to Harvard Health. Additional health benefits of being thankful are listed at UCLA Health, including decreased depression and anxiety, improved heart health and sleep, and initiation of the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps you relax and destress. Let Thanksgiving tomorrow be a reminder that practicing gratitude is more than just something that will boost your mood, but implementing this practice into your everyday life will be deeply beneficial in more ways than one.
Being thankful is not something to do one day a year but something we can challenge ourselves to do often.
Below are some journal prompts or reflection questions you can ask yourself to start living in a state of thankfulness:
What are three things that made you smile today?
What are five things you love about the place you live?
Who are you most thankful for in your life right now? Write about why.
What abilities are you grateful for?
When have you seen God answer a prayer recently?
What is something good you saw someone do today?
What are you proud of yourself for today?
What is something funny that happened today?
Where is a safe space in your life? Why do you feel safe there?
What is something you learned today?
Try starting every morning with gratitude and ending every day with one (or more) of these reflection questions! You just might start to change the world, little by little!