NOVEMBER FEATURE OF THE MONTH

THE POWER OF GRATITUDE

“ Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgiving, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.”
— William Arthur Ward

What is GRATITUDE?

Gratitude is derived from the Latin word ‘gratia’, means gratefulness or thankfulness. In its simplest form, gratitude refers to a ‘state of thankfulness’ or a ‘state of being grateful’. In short, gratitude is practicing the art of being thankful and content for what we have.


Why is GRATITUDE important?
Gratitude is a powerful human emotion. By conveying and receiving simple ‘thank you’ messages, we can truly derive the pleasure that we seek everywhere else. When we are grateful, we tend to ‘want’ less and feel more content. In our consumer world, it is so easy to forget about all of the blessings we have around us and constantly thinking of how we can “upgrade” our lives.

There are many ways to practice gratitude.

Right now is the perfect time to do this with the changing leaves. By practicing any of these techniques you are sure to find more joy in your day-to-day life.

  • The easiest way to start your morning with gratitude is saying a quick two word prayer to God every morning when your feet hit the ground. That prayer is, “Thank you”. If you practice this, you are off to a really good start!

  • Another way you can practice gratitude is journaling at the end of the day. Write down 5 good things that you noticed today.

  • You can also write a letter, Say thank you to a spouse, child or coworker or take a gratitude walk.

  • Taking a gratitude walk involves getting outside and appreciating your surroundings.

Wednesday, november 3, 2021 @ 7:40 a.m.

Dr. Courtney Miller & Jillian Giesselmann, Mental Health Intern, discussed gratitude with Bruce & Jen on Spirit Catholic Radio

Listen Here

There is a power in perception - glass half full or glass half empty.

In every moment of our life, we perceive the experience through a unique lens. Being aware of our lenses as well as our ability to put on a different pair of "glasses" allows us to shift a negative to a positive, to see the situation from a different perspective, and to gain a deeper appreciation for the experience.

In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES