Gratitude

Nancy Palermo Lietz, MD

We are not politically minded, and this is NOT a political article but rather a mindful reminder of how we can allow external forces to impact our health.

The recent political election has caused a feeling of dissent no matter which side you choose. This has malignantly permeated our lives in negative ways. Fractured relationships hindered work ethics, and hopelessness, fear, and anger abound. We need to be mindful of how we allow this situation to impact our health. 

Unfortunately, many of us go through our days focusing on dissatisfaction within our lives rather than accepting and appreciating what we have accomplished or what is present in our lives right now.

This perspective is gratitude- an emotion that allows thankful recognition of what we have and what we have received.  In her book Gratitude, Melody Beattie reminds us to connect with what is truly important in life. She asks, “Could it be you are who you are and where you are now for a reason.” Gratitude invites us to recognize the gifts we possess in the current moment. It allows us to see each day as new and with potential. It is about recognizing the moment and what we have in it rather than what we lack. Many philosophers, religious leaders, and health experts consider this practice a central element to a healthy state of mind and overall health.

Practicing gratitude regularly can affect our blood pressure, kidney function, and brain chemistry.

Individuals who practice gratitude regularly have more optimism and less stress, depression, and anxiety. This practice suits those around us and can nurture and strengthen relationships. Not only are we uplifted but those around us feel the ripple effect. Think of gratitude as giving to others without giving too much of yourself. 

While it might be easy to allow the current events to take away from all that you have, if you reframe your perspective, you will find that it will allow you more energy, promise, and positivity to tackle whatever comes. This may initially seem false or contrived, but as therapist Shauna Shapiro shares in her bestselling book, Good Morning, I Love You, we know that what we practice grows through the science of neuroplasticity or the growth of new neuron pathways. The reality is that none of us knows what will happen tomorrow, but we can focus on what we have today and be grateful to help us be fully present and prepared for what comes in our future. This practice will help us grow and appreciate what we have today so we can relish our gifts and spare the energy wasted on focusing on our limitations. 

Practicing gratitude also helps to bind us to others, even when they may not share our views or situations.

The reality is that most of us share many of the same goals and desires, and we focus on our differences. This is an inherited survival trait, but we can look beyond it and focus on what we share, and this will reframe our approach and allow us to work together for what is best for our health and the health of our communities. Gratitude can be a catalyst to making each of us less selfish, more caring and more socially engaged, which is better for our health and wellbeing and humanity. 

So, as a holiday gift to each of you, we have put together some simple ways to start practicing gratitude. We hope it helps you savor the holiday season but, more importantly, restructure how you approach your days. In closing, we also want to say thank you to each of you for your continued support for Thrive and all we do to help empower you and make you healthier and happier. We feel immense gratitude for this support. 

Gratitude Homework

1.  Start small. Be grateful that you woke up today and are alive. Be thankful for your breath. Be grateful for the taste of the fresh organic blueberries you sprinkled on your yogurt this morning. Find simple wins in your day. 
2. Start a gratitude jar. Each day, add a small message about what you are grateful for. Share with your family during holiday celebrations. Allow the jar to capture experiences, memorable moments, and events. It may be as simple as being together at a Carolina Panthers win or a quiet moment with your spouse drinking coffee in the morning. 
3. Make sure to thank someone in your life today at least once. 
4. Focus on your health achievements. Be thankful for the twenty minutes you allowed yourself to exercise, even if it was not your initial goal. Anything is better than nothing. You can build on this and be thankful you have the mindfulness to appreciate it. 
5. Be grateful for our differences, which help build our families’ and communities’ diversity and complexity. Try to see things from another’s point of view and be grateful for the lesson learned in doing this. 
6. Spend the challenging times with your family, focusing on the positives, not the irritating negatives. Be grateful you have a family that gets together, even if you must hear your uncle’s fishing story for the tenth time. Avoid allowing conversations to become political and then heated when there are disagreements. The reality is we cannot change the views of individuals, and attempts at doing so will rob us of much-needed energy and joy. Instead, focus on what everyone shares – love, loss, and gratitude. Move the conversation to these important topics, and everyone will appreciate that, in the end, we are all more the same than we are different.