The Power of Gratitude

By Kellie Hynds, LMFT

“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” Robert Brault

Have you ever thought about how important it is to feel and acknowledge the things we are grateful for? It seems that it is so much easier to complain and focus on the negative.  

Gratitude plays a big part in improving our mental health. When we express gratitude for something it helps us to feel more positive emotions, savor the good experiences and focus less on the negative.   

Research shows that expressing gratitude also boosts our immune systems and increases our optimism. 

One good way to help focus more on our gratitude is to keep a daily gratitude journal and write down three things that we are grateful for. You can start with small things such as “I am grateful for my bed” and then try to expand more and add why you are grateful for something.  

Some other ideas include taking a mindfulness walk or writing a gratitude letter. Please refer to therapistaid.com for instructions.

The next time you are tempted to focus on the negative things in your life try and think of one positive thing that you are grateful for.