Thanksgiving happens once a year, but it shouldn’t be the only time that we remember to reflect on what’s important to us and what we’re thankful for. Why is it important to practice this type gratitude more regularly? Because giving thanks actually makes us happier and healthier. Science has shown that regular gratitude practice is associated with increased happiness, fulfillment, and better overall health.
You might question the effects of how a simple thing like “practicing gratitude” could really change your life, but it also makes sense if you think about it. Thanksgiving is about reflecting, giving thanks for people and things we have in our lives, and acknowledging and recognizing what we’ve achieved instead of regretting the things we didn’t. It’s for thinking about what brought us to where we are (as individuals and as a whole) and about what will make the present rich, and the future abundant.
It’s not about faking happiness, lying to yourself, or forcing anything that you don’t genuinely feel good about. It’s about regularly appreciating the positive things that happen to you or that you make happen–whether big or small–every single day. This can be such a powerful influence on our feelings of personal fulfillment and happiness.
Some ways that you can keep giving thanks year-round is by reaching out to people and telling them how much you appreciate them, keeping a gratitude journal (something we’ve talked about on this blog before), pray and/or meditate, try to do one act of kindness every day, or even find a place to volunteer at regularly.
Supporting your community is also a great way to give thanks. For me, this has always been very important. Last year we gave away hundreds of turkeys at Morris Park Boxing Club in the Bronx for peoples’ Thanksgiving tables, and this year was our second year of doing it. I’m forever grateful for this gym and the people around it and I’m humbled that I am in a position to show my appreciation and give back to the community.
A great New Year’s resolution for 2022 that I think everyone would benefit from that also takes very little effort and time, is to do some form of gratitude practice every day.
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