Resiliency Counseling and Consulting LLC

November always brings Thanksgiving, a time of giving thanks.  Families have traditions where they share what they are thankful for before beginning a meal.  Social media is flooded with “Thankful Thursday” post. In addition, November is National Gratitude month. It is a time of transition with the fall season upon us.  Leaves change and nature gives way to bare branches and gray toned scenery; it becomes a natural time of reflection. Did you know that being thankful and  having gratitude actually improves your health?  A single act of gratitude is shown to increase happiness 10% and decrease depression 35%. And the longer you continue, the more improvement happens. So why do we wait until November? Why don’t we do this everyday? Having gratitude has become challenging in today’s society. We are often surrounded by negative noise. On social media, we are exposed to the latest news of death, suffering and violence. In addition, we see people living a life that seems happy or full and we immediately compare. “Why do they get to have that and I don’t?”  “I will never be able to go on that vacation!” #yourlifeisbetterthanmine

All of these false messages flood our brains and become truth. Gratitude isn’t just a stand-alone attitude. It breeds humility and compassion. Compassion leads to kindness. I think most would agree that the world needs a shift to kindness. What if instead of practicing gratitude only in November, we pledge to do so every day.  If we as a collective, commit to gratitude,  then we will grow compassion and kindness in our world. Imagine all the people. Livin’ life in peace.  You may say I’m a dreamer.(Lennon, 1971)