April 11, 2023
“When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.”
– Willie Nelson
There are countless studies that link an attitude of gratitude to a greater sense of well-being and positive mental health. But when you’re grieving, finding reasons to be thankful is often a daunting and painful task because misery and self-pity can be overwhelming.
And yet, research shows that even smallest acts of gratitude will work to pick you up. Acts as simple as a thank you note. Or even a silent thank you for a person, which you utter to yourself.
This does not mean that your attempts to express gratitude will suddenly and miraculously transform your situation. No. Healing from grief is a process, a process that can’t be hurried. Nevertheless, experts say gratitude works even though sometimes it takes time to work.
If you are open to opportunities to perform small acts of gratitude, the occasions will find you.
As you progress on your journey to healing, always remember the importance of small acts of gratitude, and take a few moments in solitude to appreciate what you have to be grateful for. These simple gestures will improve your health and elicit positive emotions. They will make you more hopeful, enhance your relationship with God, and give you an opportunity to appreciate the blessings that surround you … even in your suffering.
Gratitude will also help you confront adversity and strengthen your relationships with those you love. Keeping a gratitude journal only takes a few minutes a week, but it can improve and strengthen your mental health.
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Saying thank you and being grateful are simple gestures that facilitate healing.