Gratitude – It’s Not Just for Thanksgiving!
Studies show that being grateful gives all parts of our lives a lift, a boost in positivity that helps us get through the days, especially when those days are scary, and especially when we’re feeling hopeless and worried for the future of our world.
Did you know that gratitude can positively impact your health? It’s true. Elders, especially those with compromised immune systems due to high blood pressure, diabetes, and other age-related illnesses, are more susceptible to sickness, and gratitude along with a positive outlook, practiced regularly, can improve your immune response to any illness.
How to stay grateful
Gratitude will do the heavy lifting of helping you sustain a positive attitude. It can keep you energized, healthy, and hopeful, and it can also level out the wide swing of emotions we’re faced with daily.
Acknowledging gratitude in your life is easy:
Start today: Look around right where you are and jot down two or three things you’re grateful for, then expand this practice to a wider vision every day.
Say it out loud: Expressions of gratitude, for even the mundane things, helps make them more prominent.
Be committed to gratitude: Before expressing any negativity, fear, or anger, look for a sliver of good in any and all situations. Focused gratitude magnifies the good in our lives.
Stay vigilant and let gratitude remain a strong protection during the cold wintry months of sickness and during all the coming months. When you go out into the world, smile and say hello. Convey to others your positive attitude and see just how contagious that can be! Then, watch that energy be reflected back to you.
