The Power of Gratitude

Hello trailblazers! With all that's going on it the world right now it can be easy to focus on the things you are missing: sports, connections with friends, outings with your family, etc. Having an attitude of gratitude, focusing on what you are thankful for, can have an enormous benefit to your physical and mental health as well as a positive impact on your relationships. Today I want to talk to you about the power of gratitude.

Research cited in the article below shows us that those that have a daily practice of gratitude show many benefits:

Physical

• Stronger immune systems

• Less bothered by aches and pains

• Lower blood pressure

• Exercise more and take better care of their health

• Sleep longer and feel more refreshed upon waking

Psychological

• Higher levels of positive emotions

• More alert, alive, and awake

• More joy and pleasure

• More optimism and happiness

Social

• More helpful, generous, and compassionate

• More forgiving

• More outgoing

• Feel less lonely and isolated.

Read the article below and watch the videos to learn about gratitude, and what you can do to incorporate this into your daily life.

One way to harness the power of gratitude is by doing a daily gratitude journal. Here is an example from Kidshealth.org:

Brain research shows that positive emotions, like gratitude, can benefit our bodies and minds. Feeling grateful for what we have (instead of obsessing about what we don't) helps with many different aspects of our lives — like relieving stress and boosting determination to try again when things don't work out the way we want.

This worksheet can help you start thinking about gratitude. Print out the page and write your answers to the questions in the spaces below. The act of writing down feelings of gratitude can reinforce this powerful emotion.

For a daily reminder to practice gratitude, post your answers where you'll see them each day or keep them in a gratitude journal. Then, make it a habit to pause each day to notice and appreciate what's good in your life.

1. Write down a gratitude ritual you do now. For example, giving thanks before a meal or pausing before you go to sleep to think about what went well in your day (and how to find good in the things that didn't!).
   

2. Write down an everyday blessing you've noticed that you used to take for granted. For example, electricity that keeps the lights on; fresh, clean running water; or powerful arm muscles that help you play your sport.
   

3. Name someone you're grateful to have in your life and why.
   

4. Describe something that happened in the past that you didn't feel grateful for at the time, but now think of with gratitude.
   

5. Describe a moment when you felt gratitude in real time. What other emotions did you feel?
   

6. Describe a way you've thanked someone or intend to thank someone.