Hello Beautiful,
What a month this has been. November came in with a bang and will undoubtedly end with just as much fanfare. And for this, I am grateful. Why am I grateful, you might be wondering? Well, first, let’s begin with a basic definition so that we’re all on the same page. I can’t help it; I guess it’s the educatHER in MEE. On the real, I don’t want to help it, as it’s who I am, and remember, it is still sweet November, and I get to show out. Hahaha
Ok, ok, ok, back to the point. Dictionary.com defines gratitude in the following way: the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. Psychology Today indicates that gratitude is the expression of appreciation for what one has. It is a recognition of value independent of monetary worth. Spontaneously generated from within, it is an affirmation of goodness and warmth. This social emotion strengthens relationships, and its roots run deep in evolutionary history—emanating from the survival value of helping others and being helped in return. Further, a recent study reported by Berkeley.Edu found that people who consciously count their blessings tend to be happier and less depressed.
Of the three test groups in the study, they discovered that the participants who wrote gratitude letters reported significantly better mental health four weeks and 12 weeks after their writing exercise ended. This suggests that gratitude writing can be beneficial not just for healthy, well-adjusted individuals but also for those who struggle with mental health concerns.
Thus, as your evening enhancement before November ends, which will be tomorrow. I have a T/Ask for you. Write a letter of gratitude to someone who has made a difference in your life over the last 30-60 days. Did this person play interference for you? Did you receive a gift or a thank you card just because? What about that person who was there in your time of need? How about the colleague who took on that extra assignment so you could care for a loved one or attend your child’s school activity? It does matter what the act of kindness was; what matters here is that you show gratitude. Writing letters of gratitude isn’t about looking for a reply or acknowledgment; it’s about the expression of appreciation.
With the known benefits the brain experiences when we practice gratitude consciously. Why not capture 2-3 things before going to bed that you are grateful for, as each day is a new day to be grateful. I would love to hear about your stories of gratitude. Feel free to send MEE an email at info@empowermee.com and title the subject Gratitude. I would like to highlight your letters of gratitude with our tribe.
In love, libHERation, and gratitude.
~TLM
