What Is Gratitude?
One of the oldest and purest concepts is gratitude: being thankful for what you have and for the things that positively affect your life. Gratitude is mentioned in every religious scripture; for example, Judaism teaches that being grateful means offering desirable offerings and praying to God every day. In Christianity, the festivity of “thanksgiving” is to be grateful for the bread we eat and the people we have around us. A few psychologists believe that gratitude is about perceiving the goodness in ourselves and others; it is about recognizing the value that has been taken for granted. We do not often appreciate or acknowledge the value of a person or an object, but we should be thankful for them, since they are integral parts of our lives.
How Does Being Grateful Impact Our Well-Being?
There is a reason we all crave connection; most of our positive experiences happen with other people. We feed off each other’s emotions; that’s why doing good deeds for others can sometimes feel like we’re doing them for ourselves. Studies show that small gestures can have a big impact on others. It all comes down to our effort, even if it is just a message.
Gratitude is a crucial approach during times of crisis. And this can look different depending on our situation. You might be going through a difficult family situation, a difficult life transition, or even trauma related to your faith. Religious trauma can be particularly difficult to manage, as our faith is supposed to be a safe space.
Religious trauma doesn’t have one definition. You might feel like you’re not “good enough,” or like you should always be doing more to be better. You may feel pulled between who you are and who a religion or leader expects you to be. Maybe there’s pressure to act a certain way, or a constant worry about what others think of you, no matter what you do. Whatever situation you are experiencing, there is a way to overcome it. And gratitude is one way to help you through.
But we can’t just be positive just by saying it. It requires great effort and courage not to think negatively and about what-ifs. Being grateful brings positive energy and sometimes reduces the intensity of anxiety, if not erases it altogether. It provides you with a sense of hopefulness and wellness.
How to Develop and Practice Gratitude During a Crisis
Being grateful is an ability we should cultivate every day, especially during a crisis. Sometimes we do not know how to practice thankfulness to others or ourselves; the following are a few strategies to make it easier to understand:
Write about things you are grateful for.
Keeping a journal is a great way to practice daily gratitude. It can be as simple as the process of writing three things you are grateful for every day, or a few times a week. This effort is intended to encourage greater use of this activity to foster gratitude. It evokes positive emotions in us and helps us recognize what is important in our lives. Many researchers also report that it helps you focus and make better decisions. It can be anything in your life, about your meals, or something you watched today.
Learn from the lessons of past negative experiences.
When we have too much free time on our hands, we tend to remember past experiences. Studies show that negative experiences are recalled more often than happy moments. So, we end up feeling worse, remembering these moments, and overthinking the present situation. What we can do is reflect on what we learned from these negative experiences. Ask yourself: “What is the good thing in this negative experience? What can I do about it? This can change our perspective, helping us see things in a more positive light.
Gratitude is a part of a bigger picture.
For many, gratitude does not come easily, as it can be difficult to find things to be grateful for when you are at your worst; however, that does not mean that you must be grateful for it. We can feel love, joy, or pride when we think of positive things. Gratitude is part of a broader pool of positive emotions; it can improve your mental health and boost your energy for productivity. Positive emotions can broaden your perspective, help you think better, and ward off negative thinking. You say to yourself, “I am doing better than before! It is okay to feel proud of my work, even if I’m not perfect.”
Gratitude is a belief that requires recognition and acknowledging the good things in your life. It doesn’t mean you have to be happy all the time, but to be thankful for the things you may have taken for granted. During difficult times, we all have time to reflect on what we are most thankful for and to strive to be hopeful about the future.
About the Author
Chad Thompson, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker providing Christian Counseling in Tampa, Florida, and telehealth services across Florida, Utah, Idaho, and South Carolina. With a unique background in cinema studies and over a decade in hospitality, Chad brings a distinctive storytelling approach to therapy that helps clients see their struggles and growth through new perspectives. He specializes in faith-based counseling that integrates clinical expertise with Christian values, offering services including anxiety therapy, depression treatment, and support for military families. Chad’s warm, authentic style creates a safe space where faith and mental health can work together toward healing. Learn more about Chad’s approach to Christian Counseling and cinema therapy at Calming Transformations Counseling.
Sessions can be held through online therapy in the states of Florida, Idaho, South Carolina, or Utah. Sessions are also conducted via walk-and-talk therapy in Hillsborough County, Florida.
Contact us today to schedule a session and take the first step toward a more peaceful life.