By Dr. Monica Dixon
It was a cold, rainy spring morning, and I had hit the trail for my morning jaunt when I crossed paths with a neighbor.
“Can you believe how cold it is, and this rain? I wish I’d stayed in Arizona a lot longer. This is awful!” he whined.
“Hey,” I said, “You COULD think about it this way; It’s Monday, you’re retired and not going to work, you have a beautiful home that’s not being shelled by Russians, you’re healthy enough to be out walking and best of all, this cold is protecting that snow in our mountains from an early melt!”
“Hmmmmph” he muttered, and walked on.
So where is your glass; half full or half empty? Are you joyful for the things you have, or do you bemoan those you don’t? Research continues to suggest that people who focus on the present, and on the gifts they do have in life, rather than what might be missing, live healthier, much happier and potentially longer lives.
There are many ways to develop a gratitude lens in your life, even though in the beginning it may feel unfamiliar. The past few years, with COVID, political issues, inflation and major changes in many of our lives, hasn’t always left us with an upbeat frame of mind. However, it’s exactly what’s needed during our most trying times in life. Or we end up suffering higher rates of depression, anxiety, loneliness or substance abuse.
One amazing research study asked 411 people to write a thank you letter to someone who’d helped them at some point in their lives and to mail or email it to this previously un-thanked person. A similar sized control group was used in comparison. And still a MONTH later, those who wrote the thank you’s were significantly happier than the control group who did nothing!
There ya go! One way to begin to experience gratitude is to write that letter to someone who’s influenced your life! Or even just to say “Thank you” to those you meet daily who lend you a hand. You can also start a gratitude journal, just an old notebook where you can jot those things you’re grateful for throughout your day.
Take an important step to your own health today and look for the joy rather than the sorrow!
I prefer practicing a nightly inventory, when I list the 5 things I’m most thankful for from that day, as my head hits my pillow. Even leaving voice memos to yourself on your phone can serve as reminders of those things you’re grateful for when life gets rough. Take an important step to your own health today and look for the joy rather than the sorrow!
