GRAND Magazine - November/December 2019 - 28
grandliving
Gratitude is no platitude
Giving thanks is actually good for you!
BY BOB AND JUDITH WRIGHT
I
f we want to reap the truly awesome physical, psychological, and social benefits of gratitude this
Thanksgiving, let's stop gorging on turkey, turn
down the football game, and take a few moments to
reflect on the harvest of the year and practice true
gratitude.
The holidays are a time of thankfulness, togetherness, and joy. It's a time when we reflect on our relationships with our family, friends, and loved ones. But
it's also a time when we get so wrapped up in the expectations and all the stressful hustle and bustle of the holidays that our gratitude becomes less genuine.
Suddenly we're going around the table mumbling what we're thankful for while eying up the
savory stuffing and reaching for the wine glass.
Thankfulness becomes lip service, rather than
something that enhances our lives.
Why thankfulness is so good for us
While "count your blessings" may sound
like something your grandma would say
(while you rolled your eyes), research is
showing grandma was onto something.
Cultivating an attitude of gratitude offers
immense physical, psychological, and
28 GRAND
Nov-Dec 2019
social benefits. Being grateful helps us become more optimistic,
feel better about our lives, and increase our happiness!
For example, we were coaching a woman who said she wasn't
looking forward to her upcoming family gathering, even
though she usually loved the Thanksgiving season. Her relationship with her extended family was strained, so she
was concerned they would fall right back into their usual
patterns of bickering and passive-aggressiveness. She
was feeling anxious and worried about the impending
stress, so we discussed what she could do to change
the tone of the gathering.
She came up with the plan: she would write a note to
every member of her family, telling them what she truly
appreciated about each of them. She said, "My family might
think it's a little crazy-we're not that type of family, but I'm
going to give it a shot!"
Talk about a gamechanger! Those little notes
transformed the whole interaction. She came
back with a glowing report that the entire
gathering was a huge success. The dinner
had more meaning, appreciation, and
connection. No one in her family
thought it was weird at all-they were
touched!
You see, Thanksgiving really is
good for you. No, we don't mean
all the turkey, mashed potatoes,
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GRAND Magazine - November/December 2019
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of GRAND Magazine - November/December 2019
Contents
GRAND Magazine - November/December 2019 - 1
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GRAND Magazine - November/December 2019 - Contents
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