Resolve to Change
“It is not happy people who are thankful. It is thankful people who are happy.” ~Unknown
Two simple words, that when expressed from a sense of true and honest feelings, can help transform and transport the human spirit to an ethereal place of contentment, peace and happiness. These two simple words are, “Thank You.” The ability to express a feeling of gratitude in all aspects of life can lead to a pathway that is filled with a happiness. In these uncertain times of political and economical upheaval and as the threat of global nuclear war seems to loom larger with every flippant tweet, our world seems to be drowning in a tsunami of negativity. How can one person possibly stand up to this type of surge and still manage to wake up and face the challenges of each new day? One answer to this perplexing problem is to develop and practice the ability to express one’s gratitude in as many ways as possible. I’m not going to try and paint a portrait of life as seen through rose colored glasses but by training ourselves to be thankful for what we have and what life sends us, we can better withstand the negativity of the world.
As we start out in the new year, many people I know wish to not only improve their physical self but their emotional self in 2018 as well. Our ability to feel gratitude and express that gratitude has a profoundly positive benefit for not just our mental health but to our physical health too. In a 2014 article written by Amy Morin, she extols seven different virtues of having an attitude of gratitude. The first of these is that by expressing gratitude to the people around you, you are more likely to open the door to new relationships (friends) both personally and professionally. Being thankful and having a heart of gratitude improves physical health as grateful people feel less aches and pains and are more likely to take care of their body. Being grateful is good for your psychological health as people who express feelings of gratitude are less likely to feel the toxic emotions of envy, resentment and regret. Having an attitude of gratitude also reduces feelings of aggression and enhances feelings of empathy making you a much better person all round to hang out with. Grateful people also sleep better, have better self-esteem and have a higher level of mental toughness all because they feel thankful for what they have and who they are. Kindness radiates from people who practice the life skill of gratitude because they seem to be in this happy place where they are just thankful for what they have instead of stressing out about what they don’t have. I’m not saying that people who live by gratitude don’t have moments where they want something more, but I am saying that they won’t implode if they can’t get what they want right away. They will just happily work towards their goal with a thankful heart until they get it.
As we deal with the cold weather that is gripping many parts of the nation and as the east coast gets hit with a “cyclonic bomb” of winter weather, I will choose to be grateful that I have a warm coat to wear, a roof over my head and a bowl of warm soup on my table. What will you be grateful for today? Please make every effort to take care of yourself in these dangerous temperatures and look out for your neighbors too, remember, we’re all in this together. Thank you.
Wm Reid
Best Home Care Services
325 N Eastern Ave
Connersville, IN 47331
765-827-9833
wmreid@bhcshealth.com