Gratitude is a Super Power!
Gratitude is an emotion in all of us. It is a skill we have to cultivate as it’s a learned behavior. Using our Mindfulness practice, we can pause, notice, sense, and feel what it is we are grateful for. Our brains are wired to hold on to our negative experiences and easily forget the positive ones. Dr. Rick Hanson explains it using this analogy, “The brain is like velcro for negative experiences and teflon for the positive.” Can you relate?
Recently I taught a few groups of 2-3 graders this idea of how our brains are wired. We discussed how important it is to practice being, feeling and expressing gratitude. Most of the students were surprised to hear about how our brains are wired to hold on to the negative. In fact, one student asked, “Why do our brains do that?”
When I asked the students what tends to linger longer, “when someone says or does something nice to you or the opposite, do you tend to hold on to when someone is mean in their actions or words towards you?”, the majority said, “when someone is mean!” It’s a hard truth and it’s not our fault that’s what sticks to us like velcro. We have a choice and that is to consciously focus on the positive. Look and listen for it. One way to do this is by practicing and cultivating the superpower of gratitude!
Research shows that practicing gratitude has a number of benefits:
- Builds resilience
- Increases level of happiness
- Boosts mental health
- Compassion for others
- Higher self-esteem
Some fun ways to incorporate Gratitude practices with your family:
Create a Gratitude Jar. My family does this with post-it notes. It can be for an extended amount of time of your choice. It’s fun to then take turns reading each of them out loud together.
Read books together about Gratitude. Here are few:
Create a Gratitude Journal for older children or for younger children try a Five finger gratitude practice – count five things on your fingers that you’re grateful for. Try it at the breakfast table to set your intentions for the day ahead. Make it into fun & engaging dinner table talk or create meaningful time before bed as you’re reflecting on the day.
