The Power of Gratitude
David Freund, Chief Leadership Officer
Have we lost the ability to be grateful? Have we as a nation lost perspective? Have we forgotten how truly blessed we are? In 2016, I shared the following story from my mom and maternal grandmother.
My mom and her parents fled Europe as the winds of war began to blow in the late 1930s. As a seven-year-old, she recalls going to the butcher shop near their home and asking the butcher for a nickel’s worth of bologna, sliced thin. She also shared that dinner was often one piece of meat cooked in fat. The meat was for my grandfather, and my mom, aunt, and grandmother would dip a slice of bread in the drippings. They were poor, but you would never hear them say that. They were always grateful for their blessings; they didn’t spend time musing about the things they did not have. My grandmother was one of the most grateful people I have ever met. What did she know that we do not?
My grandmother knew a secret that I too often forget; we need to cultivate gratitude. My grandmother lingered over life’s blessings; it was that simple. She spent time reflecting on the blessings she had in her life. She would have had plenty to complain about, but she chose not to. She lived in the moment and didn’t dwell on the past or long for the future. Being grateful allowed her to leave fear behind, even though a totalitarian regime took her father and brother away, never to be seen again. For as long as I was blessed to have her in my life, she was a joyful person. She was one of those people who brightened any room she entered.
A UCLA Health article from March 22nd, 2023, revealed the following health benefits of being thankful:
- Reduced Depression – A review of 70 studies covering more than 26,000 people revealed that gratitude reduces depression symptoms — people with a grateful mindset report greater satisfaction with life, stronger social relationships, and a higher self-esteem than those who don’t practice gratitude.
- Less Anxiety – Anxiety is the result of negative thinking. By switching our thinking to gratitude or an abundance mindset, we move from seeing what’s wrong to what is going well.
- Less Stress – With less anxiety, you will have less cortisol released into your bloodstream – less fight or flight reactions. Gratitude and the response it causes, help reduce your blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing to help with overall relaxation.
- Better Sleep – Since practicing gratitude also makes you less likely to be stressed, anxious, or depressed — three factors that affect sleep quality and duration, you will “naturally” sleep better.
The best way to cultivate gratitude is to keep a gratitude journal. In doing so, you combine the benefit of reflection and journaling with the intentional act of creating a more positive mindset. Take the time to write it down so you can reflect on what is going well. When you say thanks, don’t simply say it out of habit but really think about what you are thankful for.
It is impossible to feel negative and grateful at the same time. When you sense yourself going negative, stop the slide and return to gratitude. Intentionally look for something you are grateful for, and the negativity will pass. When you have returned to gratitude, share what you are thankful for with others, imagine the blessing you will be to those around you.
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. Why not give it a try and let me know how you make out. Thank you, my faithful readers, who take time out of your busy day to see what I’ve been thinking about.
Wishing you and yours a blessed Thanksgiving.