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The Gratitude Attitude

  • Writer: Patricia Faust
    Patricia Faust
  • Nov 25, 2024
  • 3 min read


Thanksgiving is this week.  Those of us in the US set aside a day to express gratitude for all that life brings us.  How can you find that ‘attitude of gratitude’ if everything around you sucks?  Everything is easier if you are in the ‘flow’ of life.  It is something we all want.  But life is also about learning and experiencing and there will be times when nothing seems to be working.  Even in good times – our brain is always looking for something that will be a threat to us – and that keeps us on the negative side of things.  Let’s look at our brain and gratitude.

 

The Stress Response

The stress response seems to be the norm for the everyday function of our brain.  Life is fast and it waits for no one.  So, we respond with the stress response which happens automatically due to the hardwiring in our brains that has been passed on to us from our prehistoric ancestors.  Our brain is always on alert to threats and is more predisposed to look at the negative side of life.  There are many things that happen to us every day that are positive, but we don’t notice them because we are always looking for the next threat to us.  This is negativity bias because we are drawn to pay attention to bad things because they could be a threat to us.  Now these actions are below our level of awareness but once we are aware of negativity bias, we can make a point to override this primitive function.    It takes some concerted effort to get our brain to move to the positive side of life.  There are always positive things happening in our lives and that is where paying attention and expressing gratitude plays a role in establishing that positive mindset. 

 

When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around. – Willie Nelson

 

The Neurochemical Effects of Gratitude

Expressing gratitude has several neurochemical effects on the brain.  Here are some surprising neurochemical changes:  Do you know what the antidepressant Wellbutrin does? It boosts the neurotransmitter dopamine.  Gratitude does the same thing.  “The benefits of gratitude start with the dopamine system because feeling grateful activates the brain stem region that produces dopamine” (businessinsider.com Sept. 26, 2015).    Do you know what Prozac does?  It boosts the neurotransmitter serotonin.  And guess what?  So does gratitude.  Trying to think of things you are grateful for forces you to focus on the positive aspects of your life.  But what if you are in that low spot in your life where you can’t find anything to be grateful for?  Actually, it doesn’t matter – it is the searching that counts.  Remembering to be grateful is a sign of emotional intelligence.  One study found that remembering to be grateful affected neuron density in both the ventromedial and lateral prefrontal cortex.  The density changes indicated that emotional intelligence increases and the neurons in these areas become more efficient.  With greater emotional intelligence, it takes less effort to be grateful.

 

Practice Feeling Gratitude

So, start small.  If things are awful, don’t try to fake gratitude.  Instead, look for even the tiniest hint of something to be grateful for.  It could be daylight after a long night, a favorite pet trying to get your attention, or a baby giggling.  Allow yourself to feel the emotion of this moment and simply say “Thank you”.  The more you practice expressing gratitude, it will be easier to find and feel more things that make you feel thankful.  When you are in the flow, write down three things you are grateful for.  You can keep your gratitude journal by your bed and write a few things in the morning to start your day off right and then a few things in the evening to help you sleep.  Don’t write for the sake of filling your journal.  Feel the emotion behind the gratitude statement.  As it becomes a habit, you will find your mindset and mood start to change.  Your life will start to turn around.

 

When your life sucks and everything is falling apart, gratitude will be the major vibe-shifting force that really works.  You will attract more into your life to be grateful for and you will learn to feel grateful for all the good things you already have.  Just maybe, this Thanksgiving you will embrace the power of gratitude.

 

When you are grateful, fear disappears, and abundance appears – Anthony Robbins

 

 

 

 

References:

 

Barker, E. (September 26, 2015). A neuroscience researcher reveals 4 rituals that will make you happier.  Retrieved from http://mobile.businessinsider.com/a-neuroscience-researcher-reveals-4-rituals-that-will-make-you-a-happier-person-2015-9

 

Castillo,S. (November 13, 2014). The science of gratitude: it really is the little things.  Retrieved from http://www.medicaldaily.com/science-gratitude-it-really-little-things-3104468

 

Thompson, N. How to feel grateful when everything sucks.  Retrieved from http://www.vibeshifting.com/feel-grateful-everything-sucks/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 

Comments

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March was an unusual month for me.  Normally I work on articles, give presentations and generally just stay tuned to what is going on in the field of aging.  This month I “learned” a lot.  Last year I learned how to write a book.  At the time I took the course I thought it would just be a natural extension of all the writing I had done over the years.  WRONG!!  The actual writing of the book was the easy part.  Putting it together into a book was difficult for me.  The course gave me step by step lessons on constructing a book.  Then editing and formatting were just as challenging.  On June 7 last year the book was published!  It was one of the most satisfying days of my writing career. 

Naturally, when you self-publish, you do not have a publisher promoting the book and getting it in the right categories for best sales on Amazon.  That was crushing because I really didn’t know to appropriately market it.  I am a brain health person!  In December of last year, I purchased a marketing program that is based on statistics.  I am technical minded and so this approach made sense to me.  The course is almost completed.  Can’t wait to see if it improves sales!

The next step I am looking at is recording an audiobook.  This is another venture I knew nothing about.  But I am already tagged on Facebook for marketing of audio book programs.  Facebook picks up everything.  Now my husband was creative director for an advertising agency and when I told him I purchased another class – he couldn’t believe it.  “This was my business.  I know how to do recordings, why didn’t you ask me?” Well, I knew he was an expert in that business, but this audiobook needs to meet all the criteria that Amazon requires for publication.  So, he can take care of the recording part of this audiobook, and I will navigate the process of meeting Amazon’s requirements.  We worked on the book together like this. 

Then I talked with some coaching experts on the viability of starting group teaching programs.  Reading The Boomer Brain book and implementing the Brain Healthy Lifestyle have two entirely different outcomes.  This lifestyle is important to maintaining high cognitive function throughout the later years of our lives.  Look for updates as to when I will roll this program out.

My last learning endeavor was attending a two-day bootcamp for Speakers.  I am really excited about what I learned there.  That is a late this year or next year project, but it is one I am really looking forward to.

 

What Is Happening in April?

The American Society on Aging is having their annual conference in Orlando Florida April 21-24.  This is the largest multidisciplinary conference on aging and the annual conference for Members of ASA.  I have attended a number of these conferences throughout the years, and it is consequential.  Keynote speakers and special events are focused on combating ageism in our society.  Although this is a professional meeting, the attendees come from all aspects of aging services.  They have their work cut out for them this year!

April is Stress Awareness Month.  We should be aware of stress every month and understand how we can break the stress cycle.  These are stressful times, and we need to protect ourselves

Here is a positive one “April is National Volunteer Month”.  When I am working with new retirees who don’t know what to do, I talk to them about volunteering. It is important to have a purpose after you leave the workforce.  There are so many nonprofits who need help in all aspects of their organizations.  It is a perfect way to give back.

Finally – It was Opening Day for the Cincinnati Reds – the oldest major league team in the nation.  Cincinnati takes that responsibility seriously.  There is always an Opening Day Parade through downtown to the Ball Park.  Huge crowds line the streets and every year there is talk of making it an official holiday.  Schools and employers look the other way when there is an empty desk.  No matter what the outcome of the game is, there is so much joy, and you can feel that energy.  I am fortunate that I get to experience that.  We all need some joy right now. 

Enjoy your April.

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