Allowing gratitude to strengthen your relationships
November is a time of year that we begin to see throw pillows, coffee mugs, and home decor signs covered in words like “Thankful”, “Grateful”, and “Blessed”. We see social media challenges of people posting all the things they are grateful for throughout the month and a surge of happy and generous behaviors are shared with what we call “holiday spirit”.
From a mental health perspective, gratitude is a powerful tool. Gratitude is not just a feel-good sentiment that makes for a fun hallmark vibe; it’s a scientifically proven way to rewire your brain and boost your mental well-being.
Whether it be through spoken words, gratitude journaling, introspective thoughts, or prayer, the expression of gratitude triggers the release of chemicals such as dopamine and serotonin. These are linked to sensations of joy and happiness and can make a drastic impact on your overall mood.
In addition to improved emotional well-being, improved sleep, and reduced stress, gratitude can also be an extremely helpful interpersonal tool.
Using thankfulness and gratitude in our language choices when communicating with others has the ability to strengthen your connections and foster a sense of belonging and support. Grateful language choices empower you as well as the other person in the relationship with whom you are speaking.
Below are some common examples of how we can swap out the habit of using shame in our communication for gratitude instead.
Try swapping out these phrases:
Instead of “I’m sorry for talking so much.” – “I must have needed to get that out, thank you for listening.”
Instead of “I am such a burden.” – “I’m so thankful for your support these days.”
Instead of “I’m sorry I’m late, I’m the worst.” – “Thank you for waiting!”
Instead of “Ugh, I took so long to respond. Don’t hate me.” – “I’ve been so busy, thank you for your patience.”
If you or someone you know would benefit from learning how to build and develop a mindset of gratitude, the professionals at Counseling and Wellness Center are here to help. Call us at the Counseling and Wellness Center, located in Parkersburg or Belpre, and one of our trained professionals would love to help you out.
