Practicing Gratitude

In November of 2019, my neighbor challenged a couple of us to a “Thankful November,” where we text her every morning with three things we are thankful for.  I’ll be honest.  At the time, my first instinct was to feel exasperated about adding something else to my to-do list. Thankfully, the reaction was quickly replaced with one of, well, gratitude.  We know from research that gratitude has a number of benefits, some include:

• Increased patience

• Improved relationships

• Improved self-care

• Improved sleep

• Decreased overeating

• Reduced anxiety & depression

• Lasting happiness

• Increased empathy

• Reduced aggression

• Improved self-esteem

• Increased mental strength

• Decreased pain

• Decreased stress

• Increased energy & vitality

This is an impressive list of benefits. A year later, I’m realizing that this is still exactly what I need. 2020 has been so eventful and stressful. It is easier to look at our lives and notice all that is missing and all of the ways the world isn’t what we want it to be. It takes a commitment to focus on what we do have.  So, reach out to a friend and try the Gratitude Month Challenge yourself.   You’ll feel thankful that you did.