Gratitude Monday: Three Reasons I’m Grateful That I’m Grateful

Oh what an eventful year it has been! My family faced some challenges we could not have even imagined! My daughter was missing for a month, one of my sons had a personal crisis, and someone I considered a close friend abruptly stop speaking to me. Yet, even in my lowest moments I found myself thankful for the people around me and that gratitude yielded many benefits!

Scientific Proof that Gratitude is Good for You!

My year started in a tailspin. On January 4, my daughter went missing. My family was in great turmoil. There were times when I would reach out to a friend because I felt I was on the brink of losing it. The word “thank you”  cannot even begin to describe how appreciative I am of the support.  I  recall my Mary Kay Senior Director, Richelle, telling me “Jowanna, we are not only here for you, we are happy to support you.”

There is not a day in this year that I did not have at least a handful of reasons to be thankful.  Here are three (of many) scientific reasons that prove gratitude is good for you.

1. Gratitude Helps You Cope

It is no secret that this has been perhaps one of my most challenging years in a long time (if not ever!). Still, I spent more time saying “thank you” than crying.  According to a study published in the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, grateful people seek support and use better coping strategies to deal with problems. As I reflect on how I coped when my daughter was missing, these two factors hold true for me. I was so grateful for everyone that supported my family and me. I also concentrated on raising funds for the Lupus Walk.

I wanted to make sure that I did not get so self-indulged, that I did not remember that there were people going through far more than I was.

2. Gratitude Breeds New Relationships

Since my time on Facebook, I have come across people who helped me during challenging times in my life. I enthusiastically thank them. Some did not know how to respond, some were even weirded out by it. Sometimes I wondered if I was “overly thankful.” 2016 added many great relationships because I was grateful.   Lisa A. Williams and Monica Y. Bartlett study explains why my network circle continues to grow.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1381762515191881&set=a.496966573671484.118107.100000744372093&type=3&theater

I have so many opportunities available to me. I am now a mentor for the young woman in the above picture.

3. Gratitude Improves Your Health

I have Lupus and since my diagnosis, I have had made a ritual out of giving yearly tokens of appreciation to my professional support providers like my doctors, pharmacists and mental health support professionals.  Each year, my doctor’s visits and urgent care visits decrease.  Furthermore, I am more active ! Upon, further investigation, I found scientific proof in studies like the one conducted by DeSteno, Gross,  and Kubzansky  found grateful people have less health problem than their ungrateful counterparts.  I guess my incremental improvements are not happenstance.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1292445067456960&set=t.100000744372093&type=3&theater

I am able to travel more and more each year. The picture above is from a class reunion I attended in Texas.  My flares were so unpredictable, I was afraid to travel. My natural inclination to appreciate people and what I was gaining from tough situations has served me well throughout most of my life. As I read study after study on gratitude, I felt as if the researchers were recording my life. I have been so blessed this year and these are just a few of my blessings:

• Improved coping skills. I had less meltdowns by just verbalizing how I felt. Diverting my attention to helping others decreased the intensity and frequency of being sad. My coping strategies have moved my goals forward.
• More connections and meaningful relationships. I have better friends and like-minded associates which increased my support system.
• Less flares and visits to the doctor. My husband, my protector and a worry wart, has noticed that I am more active than I’ve ever been in a long time.

Practice gratitude until you mean it. Footsoldiers, I am evidence that gratitude not only improves your attitude, it also increases your blessings. (And if you don’t believe me, there is scientific proof!)

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