Gratitude

Originally published: Kaplan University National Society of Collegiate Scholars, November 2014 Newsletter

Grat·i·tude (noun): a feeling of appreciation or thanks.

Gratitude, appreciation, appreciativeness, gratefulness, thankfulness, thanks-are all common words this time of year with the approaching Thanksgiving holiday.  In fact, the month of November is dedicated as Gratitude Month.  These words however should not be reserved just for the month of November but hold a place in our vocabulary (and hearts) year-round.  Something beautiful happens when we show gratitude…we make others feel good and we feel good ourselves.  

Showing gratitude to someone does not require a grand gesture, it can be as simple as saying “thank you” to let that person know you appreciate them and their act of kindness.  Although, I personally do not know anyone who would turn down a plate of fresh baked cookies!  You may just make their day, and yours as well.  Notice a pattern here?  It’s referred to as the snowball effect creating a chain of appreciation and happiness to all those involved.   

There is also something to be said about being grateful for the things we have in our lives.  Showing appreciation, or counting our blessings so to speak, has a big impact on our happiness and ability to overcome challenges.  Practicing gratitude on a regular basis, even for just minutes a day, is incredibly easy and can have a profound effect on your mental wellness.  For ideas on how to give thanks or how to start practicing gratitude visit the following resources.

Aaronson, L. (2013). Make a gratitude adjustment. Psychology Today. Retrieved from http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200602/make-gratitude-adjustment

Babauta, L. (2007). Why living a life of gratitude can make you happy. Retrieved from http://zenhabits.net/why-living-a-life-of-gratitude-can-make-you-happy/

Gratitude Guru, The. (2013). It’s November! Happy gratitude month!  Retrieved from http://allaboutgratitude.com/blog/6438/november-happy-gratitude-month/

 

Merriam-Webster Inc. (2014). Gratitude. Retrieved from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gratitude 

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