Thanksgiving is upon us and it is that time of the year when we reflect on the many things for which we have to be thankful. Thankfulness or gratitude refers to a state of mind we can choose to adopt. On the surface, it seems that feeling grateful for things would have little impact on our lives. However, science has proven that entering into a state of gratitude has many benefits to us. Gratitude boosts motivation and helps us build on previous successes. Gratitude shifts our focus onto progress we have made as opposed to focus on our shortcomings or failures. Being thankful helps us with clarity as we are able to clearly see what is most important to us. A thankful mind is more resilient by encouraging optimism in the face of setbacks and obstacles. Gratitude is an attitude we should maintain all throughout our lives instead of just on the “big day.”
So how about you? What do you have to be thankful for as we celebrate Thanksgiving? Sometimes we can take things for granted and don’t really appreciate all we have been blessed with. How about being able to recover from injury? It wasn’t that long ago that a torn ACL meant the end of your athletic career. Yet nowadays with a little hard work, return to your sport is often an option. What about the privilege involved in even being able to play a sport? Many people in the world cannot fathom the luxury of playing a game or competing as life’s challenges have overwhelmed them. There are none of us living that do not have something for which to be grateful. What a blessing to be alive; to have an opportunity to overcome; to have a chance at success; to have people to share love with and give love to. As a great man once said, “The more thankful you are, the more you will have to be thankful for.” Gratitude is not reserved for only one day of the year, but it benefits you every time you arrive there. Be thankful everyday!