Have you ever thought about the benefits of giving thanks? On May 19, 2024, the Jamaica Observer published an article by Rev. Shauna-Kay Douglas, entitled “Make Mental Health a Priority”. She gave practical ways one can take care of their mental health. One of these tips was to “be grateful always”. Here’s what she said: “Gratitude is the right attitude. It shifts our perspectives and alters our mood.” It got me thinking that there is much truth and merit to this perspective. I have actually seen this in my journey.
A few years ago, I started to make gratitude a part of my daily routine. Before I write my to-do list each morning, I jot down at least three things I am grateful for. I most certainly give thanks for the big things – like getting to my place of employment accident-free or being able to eat without being sick. Oddly, I also give thanks for some of the weirdest things, such as lo-fi beats, my favourite sports teams winning a game, a meme, and dreary weather in the morning. I even give thanks for acts of kindness demonstrated by my friends and family. Doing this activity consistently makes me smile. It also adds a little jolt of joy to my mind before I go about my daily activities. Even if I end up having a tough day, I can look back and be reminded of the little blessings I started with. Actively giving thanks has been a game-changer for me.
Our natural inclinations lean towards dwelling on the bad things in life. A bad break-up. The death of a loved one. Failing a test or doing poorly in an interview. All these things and more can drain us and induce stress. They can kill our joy and reduce our peace of mind. Gratitude does the opposite. Research also confirms the idea that gratitude is good for our health.
In its article entitled “Thankfulness: How Gratitude Can Help Your Health”, the American Heart Association indicated that “the practice of gratitude is associated with many positive effects in a person’s physical and mental health. Expressing gratitude can improve sleep, mood and immunity, and can decrease depression, anxiety, chronic pain and disease.” We need to be doing this more often and consistently.
It is important to note that being grateful for something does not mean that you are denying your negative experiences; they should be processed well. Thankfulness attempts to put a positive spin on things, preventing them from weighing you down. Clinical Psychologist Ashley J. Smith, PhD, advocates for using gratitude as a tool for Habit Reversal Training. This entails breaking/reversing the habit of ruminative thinking. For example, if one repeatedly thinks about a negative piece of information for too long, it can contribute to depressive and anxious episodes. We can combat complaints by expressing gratitude instead when complaints flood the mind. Of course, it will take some time to form a new habit. It takes a different kind of resilience and fortitude to be thankful amid the storms of life. Still, I appreciate that this act is doable and worth embracing, pun intended.
Let’s be honest with ourselves. Many things bring about misery in this life. There are so many reasons to pout and complain in life. However, on the other side of that coin lies a wealth of opportunities to express thankfulness. We have a beautifully complex life within our grasp. We should hold on tightly and smile with gratitude in our hearts, knowing that we are privileged to experience much. So, what about you? What are you thankful for? There has to be something to be grateful for, no matter how small. Be deliberate in zoning in on the good things. Write them down. Sound it out. Your entire being will do better because of it. Also, if you are grateful for someone/some people, communicate that with these people. You would never know if a life would be better just by giving thanks.
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
– Philippians 4:8 (ESV)
References
American Heart Association. (n.d.). Thankfulness: How gratitude can help your health. Retrieved from https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-lifestyle/mental-health-and-wellbeing/thankfulness-how-gratitude-can-help-your-health
Douglas, Shauna-Kay. (2024, May 19). Make mental health priority. Jamaica Observer. Retrieved from https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2024/05/19/make-mental-health-priority-20240518-1744-444013/
Smith, Ashley J., PHD (2023, November 22). Gratitude: Mental health game changer. Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Retrieved from https://adaa.org/learn-from-us/from-the-experts/blog-posts/consumer/gratitude-mental-health-game-changer
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