Among the happiest people in the world are those who constantly count their blessings and make their blessings count. Possibly, they are the healthiest as well.
There’s a name for it — this tendency to always look at the bright side and to appreciate good people, things and experiences in our lives. It is called the gratitude mindset.
Who to Thank
Look around you for things to be thankful for. Start with your home and then extend your sight to your community, school, workplace, church, and so on. Identify those individuals with whom you feel a sense of belonging, a feeling of contentment and other good vibes. Make sure they feel good around you, the same way they make you feel.
Count family members, friends, work mates, school mates, neighbors, etc. — people we can count on to listen to us and give comfort in times we feel distressed, confused, lost or hurt. Those who genuinely rejoice with us in our triumphs, big or small. The same ones who allow us to shine our brightest even at the price of their being overshadowed.
Think of your parents, teachers, bosses and other mentors whose guidance and support helped shape us into the accomplished people we now are.
As you thank them, keep counting. There are many more. Other members of your family who are always there for you. Your friends with whom you lunch, work or chat and who never fail to make you laugh.The doctors, nurses and other medical workers who make sure you and other members of the community are healthy and well taken care of.The policeman, soldiers and other law enforcers who work round the clock to keep you safe from bad elements.
Add to these those who serve others for a living: the wait staff, the fast food crew, the sales people, etc who somehow make our lives a bit easier.And what about the talented people whose business is to entertain us — the movie and television actors, standup comedians, professional clowns.These only scratch the surface.
Things to be Thankful For
How can we not go down on our knees in gratitude when we think of our comfortable homes, the food on our table, the shirt on our back, the occasion for travel, the training and education made accessible to us and other opportunities for self improvement and growth?
Unfortunately we don’t always recognize opportunities, especially when they come in the guise of challenges and difficult situations.
When we face challenges with an open mind they may well turn out to be occasions for developing new skills and building resourcefulness and creativity. Clearly, with a positive attitude we can count challenges as blessings too.
Thankfulness and Good Health
Many people swear by thankfulness as a powerful health habit.
Research has shown that thankfulness can improve sleep, mood and immunity, decrease depression, anxiety, difficulties with chronic pain and risk of disease.
Scholars studying gratitude report that being thankful and expressing it to others contribute to our well-being. Not only does it make us feel good; it also helps us build trust and closer bonds with the people around us.It was also found that gratitude does not only affect the grateful person but also anyone who witnesses it.
A grateful attitude not only improves one-on-one relationships but could bring entire groups together, inspiring a desire to help and connect among people who simply witness an act of gratitude being performed.
Such a positive attitude has been linked to the release of certain neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and serotonin, which are associated with feelings of pleasure and well-being. These neurochemicals play a role in regulating mood and emotional states.
To get maximum health benefits from a thankfulness mindset, it must be built into our lifestyle and thought processes. But even allocating some time each day to being thankful can prove beneficial.
Dr. Paz Diaz, 80, a university lecturer and NGO executive, attributes her lasting energy and well-being to a philosophy of life that includes habitual thankfulness.
Dr Diaz reveals she has recently overcome Type 2 diabetes through proper diet and physical activities. “No rice, except on rare occasions, and mostly cooked vegetables and raw salads.” She now has 20/20 vision after having undertaken refractive and cataract surgery.
She also mentions a “use it in order not to lose it” mindset as key to staying mentally alert. Lastly, Dr. Diaz cites gratitude journaling, appreciation of others and herself and being constantly in the present as practices that ease depression and improve emotional balance.
It is not enough to count our blessings, according to Neal Maxwell, an American scholar, educator and religious leader. We must also make our blessings count.
Making our blessings count
How? By feeding the hungry, raising the fallen, comforting the bereaved, defending the weak, and righting the wrongs our brothers and sisters have endured for far too long. By sharing with those who have less in life.
Not all of us have the clout and resources that will allow us to make a significant difference in the lives of the disadvantaged.
But we can make small but splendid initiatives in our little corner of the world. By our own personal actions and interactions, we can foster good group values such as inclusivity, diversity and fairness.
A first step is to get to know the “others” — those who are outside the core circle — in the group, whether at school, at work or at play. With a welcoming word or smile we can lead “others” into the circle. Notice the diversity or lack of it during group discussions and decision-making.
Pay attention to how all people are being treated, especially signs of excluding behavior. By speaking out against inequalities, you become a catalyst of change. Change that will promote oneness rather than separation.
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References:
5 Amazing Groups of People I am Grateful For: http:www//chintanjain.com
100 Things to be Grateful For in Your Life. https://www.shutterfly.com
Gratitude Mindset https://lucemiconsulting.co.uk
How Does Gratitude Mindset Improve Mental Health? https://www.mental.healthfirstaid.org
Expressing Gratitude to Improve Health: https://wwwhelpguide.org
7 Benefits of Gratitude https://wwwconehealth.com
The Ripple Effects of a Thank You https://www.loveiswarm.org.
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