Leveraging the Power of Gratitude to Boost Our Mental Wellness
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
By Norbert Soski
Author/Speaker/Consultant
A key parameter to improving your mental health is taking attention off yourself. There are two sides to this:
Doing acts of goodness and kindness towards others, and
Offering gratitude when these acts are bestowed upon you.
These acts of someone doing something beneficial for you or saying something nice about you are truly a “gift,” like every day is a birthday. These could be acts of kindness, a birthday gift, a helping hand, a special favor, a kind word, holding the door for you when your hands are full, or a smile after a rough day.
The real challenge behind showing gratitude is that it requires you to think, behave, and act outside of your own needs and desires. It is contrary to your “me, myself, and I” general way of living. You need to respond to these wonderful “gifts” with sincere and appropriate gratitude. Offering true and sincere gratitude comes in three key parts:
Awareness – The first part of gratitude is being aware that someone did or said something that somehow contributed or made a difference in your life. Without seeing this, you go through life believing others are just here to serve you or what they may have done for you is insufficient and that they need to do more before you can express your gratitude. Awareness puts you in the here and now – preset time. So, the more gratitude you express, the more you are forced to be in present time – appreciating the world as it is, for its present beauty.
Recognition – The second part of gratitude is recognizing that person for their act, their “gift,” to you in whatever form it came in. Acknowledging the individual somehow contributed to your life.
Appreciation – And the last part of gratitude is the sincere expression of your appreciation for this “gift.”Gratitude needs to be sincere, not just “oh yeah, thank you,” because it is what you are supposed to say. Return the “gift” with a sincere expression of appreciation – a “THANK YOU,” a hug, a smile, or a thumbs up.
Gratitude improves your relationships because you learn to focus on others, not just your needs and desires. Acknowledging others for their contribution to you makes them happier and in return their happiness can rub off on you – shared happiness. A smile begets a smile and both shine. And where better than at home to share and express your most sincere gratitude. How rewarding the joy and ongoing success gratitude can bring to your relationship with your spouse. Especially when you and your spouse experience the connection that each are equal, because expressing your gratitude demonstrates that you are not taking advantage of the other. The big things, like earning an income or changing the baby’s diaper, to the little things, like making dinner each night or taking out the trash are equally appreciated.
Be aware of the world around you. Each day make a point of finding others to express your gratitude toward. Lift your head and open your eyes. And when you see what others are doing for you, smile and say “thank you.” When times are challenging, go out of your way to help another.
Go do something useful or say something nice to someone. Doing or saying something to someone puts you in relationship with them and gets you out of your head and into the real world. And you will feel so much better when someone gives you a smile and expresses their gratitude to you, for the differences you made in their life.
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