Gratitude Can Save Your Thanksgiving Season

Thanksgiving can be a paradox of opposites. Families coming together, or not so well. Beautifully laid out tables, or just on Pinterest. Time off, but the stress of planning all the things.

Sometimes the relationships that matter the most to us begin to fray at the edges, even in the middle of a holiday all about gratitude.

Gratitude is the quality of being thankful, a feeling of appreciation or thanks; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.

It might do our hearts good to talk about how gratitude can strengthen our relationships.

Gratitude is often about little things, but it can change big things. Like tension in marriages. Like the tone we use when we talk to our kids. Like the conflict we are torn up over and the discontentment that clouds our days. Like the distance we feel when we pray.

Here is another fact: It’s hard to be mad at someone you’re saying thank you for every day. That could apply to a spouse, a family member, a co-worker or even a neighbor.

When we practice giving thanks for the people dear to us a shift takes place. We become less defensive and less easily offended. We embrace humility, we listen better and we extend ready apologies.

People who practice gratitude are more likely to take actions to resolve conflicts and engage in helpful behavior toward others. They also have improved mental alertness, feel happier and more optimistic, and even have stronger immune systems.

Gratitude is linked with decreased stress levels and increased sleep quality and duration.

Research shows attitudes of thankfulness and gratitude are linked to positive outcomes like less depression, lower levels of anxiety disorders, phobias, and toxic emotions like envy and resentment, fewer addictions to nicotine and drugs, and improved relationships.

We can all cultivate gratitude.  Every day, take the opportunity to express gratitude to others.  Say thank you more often.  Let others close to you know how much you appreciate them.

I also suggest keeping a gratitude journal.  Before going to sleep each night, or first thing each morning, write down three things for which you are grateful. Reflect on them, and allow yourself several moments to savor them.

Studies show that this simple activity, continued for a week, can increase happiness and decrease depressive symptoms.

The bottom line is this: when we look for things to praise in another, it helps us improve.

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Does this article make you interested in taking the Engaged Neighbor pledge? Five categories and 20 principles to guide you toward becoming an engaged neighbor. Sign the pledge online at http://engagedneighbor.com.

Contact the blog author, David L. Burton at dburton541@yahoo.com.