My grandmother always said, “Attitude is everything,” and furthermore, being thankful should become first and foremost. Because when we show gratitude, other feelings dissolve and become obsolete. For example, how can one be grateful and envious at the same time?
November is the time of year that we, as a nation, have set apart to show gratitude for the blessings in our lives. We should not limit this behavior to just one day a year. Why not give thanks on a daily basis? In the Good News Bible, 1Thessalonians 5:16 says, “Be joyful always, pray at all times, be thankful in all circumstances.”
Research shows that an attitude of gratitude is healthy. It builds resilience in times of stress and grief. Dr. Robert Emmons, psychology professor at the University of California, Davis, has performed extensive research over the years, and his findings show the following of people who acknowledge small pleasures:
- Better sleep
- Lower blood pressure
- Feel more positive emotions
- More likely to get things done
- More likely to exercise
- Feel more alert
In a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, Jeffrey Froh, assistant professor of psychology at Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY, was noted for his research with children and gratitude. He found that gratitude in children may lead to a decrease in materialism, better grades, higher goals and more satisfaction with their friends. Whether you are a child or an adult, you can choose how you feel about a situation. You can be thankful for the lessons learned or you can focus on the negatives.
Who would have thought that there could be self-healing through gratitude? To begin the self-healing process, we must purge thoughts of entitlement. Neither life, people nor God owes us anything. Good things in life are gifts. Everything we have in life is a loan. God allows us gifts to use in our lives and then observes how we use them. The grandest statement you can make is with two simple words. Thank you.
Melanie Yunger lives in Shawnee and is most thankful for her family, a roof over her head and enough food on the table.