Numerous studies have looked at the association being thankful has on our health. The findings? By and large the finds suggest that choosing an attitude of gratitude and the practice of being grateful can have a positive impact on our health as individuals, but it can also have a positive impact on our relationships with each other as human beings.

What is gratitude?
Though studies may vary slightly in their definition of gratitude they all get to the idea that gratitude is about actively acknowledging the good and positive aspects of one’s life. This can be tangible as well as intangible aspects of life. Gratitude has the ability to propel us towards others and our community versus motivating us solely for our own self-benefit. Most of the studies surrounding gratitude have shown us that the practice of being thankful results in happiness both for the one practicing gratitude as well as for the recipient. Consider this, we cannot control everything in life, but we do have choices when it comes to our attitudes, our character development, and our willingness to see things from other perspectives. This can not only help us as individuals to walk through challenges with less stress, but our choices can also reduce stress on those we are in relationship with.
Let me give you an example. No matter how much wise planning we do, sometimes things just don’t work out well. We don’t always plan for medical emergencies. We certainly have a hard time being thankful for them. They can cause a lot of stress. I will never forget the medical emergencies I have had a front seat for. I can look back and see that the days I took time to be thankful for friends who provided meals, so I didn’t have to cook for my family, or when I thanked my husband for cleaning the house while I was at the hospital with a family member, or the days I wrote a list of what was going “right” in life; those were the days I was less stressed and so was everyone else in my family. The self-discipline of taking time to be grateful was developed at an earlier time in my life.
Let me suggest that when practicing gratitude regularly in our daily lives when “all is well” paves a road for us to carry on that practice when things get rocky too. Ultimately, this allows us experience happiness even when things are challenging. That isn’t just a gift you can give yourself, but one that others will get the benefit of too.
How to Practice Gratitude
Harvard Health Publishing suggests six ways you can incorporate the practice of gratitude into your life, regularly, in their 2021 article, “Giving Thanks Can Make You Happier”:
Write a thank-you note. You can make yourself happier and nurture your relationship with another person by writing a thank-you letter or email expressing your enjoyment and appreciation of that person’s impact on your life. Send it, or better yet, deliver and read it in person if possible. Make a habit of sending at least one gratitude letter a month. Once in a while, write one to yourself.
Thank someone mentally. No time to write? It may help just to think about someone who has done something nice for you, and mentally thank the individual.
Keep a gratitude journal. Make it a habit to write down or share with a loved one thoughts about the gifts you’ve received each day.
Count your blessings. Pick a time every week to sit down and write about your blessings — reflecting on what went right or what you are grateful for. Sometimes it helps to pick a number — such as three to five things — that you will identify each week. As you write, be specific and think about the sensations you felt when something good happened to you.
Pray. People who are religious can use prayer to cultivate gratitude.
Meditate. Mindfulness meditation involves focusing on the present moment without judgment. Although people often focus on a word or phrase (such as “peace”), it is also possible to focus on what you’re grateful for (the warmth of the sun, a pleasant sound, etc.).
Harvard Health Publishing. (2021, August 14). Giving thanks can make you happier. Retrieved from Harvard Health Publishing Harvard Medical School: https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/giving-thanks-can-make-you-happier
November is a time we think more about gratitude because as Americans, most of us, celebrate Thanksgiving. As you consider what you are thankful for this season know there is research that shows an association between being thankful and happiness! So… what are you thankful for today?