With terrorism striking at the heart of France and seemingly all around us, many in our country are hoping that we have finally heard the wake-up call after falling asleep at the wheel over the last several years. It doesn't take a lot of imagination to picture something like what happened in Paris occurring here at any number of our "soft" targets. By every indication that appears to be the greatest desire of those who wish to destroy our way of life.
It is the day before Thanksgiving, but it can sometimes be challenging to find and hold feelings of gratitude when there seems to be so much unrest and uncertainty around us. One thing the terrorist attacks in France did was to help us re-focus us on how great the threat of violence is around the world and maybe, just how petty and self-centered some of our domestic bickering has been.
In comparison to terrorism, it seems like some of our societal complaining about being mistreated is small minded. This is especially true in contrast to the severe injustices perpetrated upon innocent people by those forces that are openly attempting to destroy our civilization as we know it and send us back into the dark ages. It serves as a reminder of the harsh realities of life in the larger world and calls for us to be appreciative of our county, which — while not perfect — has done a tremendous amount of good around the world and provides us with an opportunity to live a relatively peaceful and prosperous existence. After all, that is why so many people around the world are trying to come here.
Thanksgiving is all about gratitude and when we look around, despite the uncertainty we may feel about our country and the world, we certainly do have a lot to be grateful for. Much like the refrain of a county song, most of us have a roof over our head, food on the table and our personal freedom. We also live in a country that has so far, not experienced the day-to-day terrorism that other parts of the world have been subjected to for years.
Being grateful is not always as easy to do as it sounds. That is because our brain is not designed to put a great emphasis upon what is going well but because of survival needs, it focuses upon what could go wrong. Survival is not enhanced by relaxing and resting upon our success but by being vigilant and sorting out potential threat. In other words, for our brain, it is far more important to detect the saber tooth tiger coming to eat us than to contemplate our good fortune.
A guide to Thanksgiving in Annapolis and Anne Arundel.
A guide to Thanksgiving in Annapolis and Anne Arundel.
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This means that to be grateful we have to override our primitive natural tendencies toward trepidation and trouble shooting in order to develop the skill of experiencing and expressing gratitude. Being grateful requires us to be present in the here and now and to be thoughtful about the various aspects of life. This change in mindset away from a critical and threat oriented posture to an open, contemplative and self-reflective style is amazingly beneficial.
Gratitude does not only produce happier holidays and better times, it actually promotes wellness and health. Psychological studies show that people who practice the regular expression of gratitude have a greater sense of vitality and more optimistic attitude all the way around. It also shows that grateful people have a higher energy and accomplish more. Even more fascinating, grateful people have a lower risk for heart disease and depression that people who do not report feelings of gratitude.
In just a few days, there will be all kinds of ghosts and goblins knocking on your door looking for that lucky house that gives out full-size candy bars! This annual day of fun and trickery has some unusual customs surrounding it so it can be an interesting challenge to try and figure out what...
In just a few days, there will be all kinds of ghosts and goblins knocking on your door looking for that lucky house that gives out full-size candy bars! This annual day of fun and trickery has some unusual customs surrounding it so it can be an interesting challenge to try and figure out what...
(Scott Smith)
When we take time to acknowledge the goodness in life, whether it be the people we love, the gift of life itself, or even our experience of pleasure, we de-center and start to connect to something larger than ourselves. Feeling appreciative is not only good for personal health, it is also like a booster shot for relationships. People who express gratitude for others in their relationships have a higher quality, more durable and longer lasting experience. Of all the things that someone can do to enhance a relationship, expressing appreciation and gratitude is the most powerful predictor of a happy relationship.
Given all of the scientific and anecdotal evidence about the power of gratitude, it makes sense to take time to start practicing. Many people find their own way to do this, but the most common is to set aside a short period of time, maybe first thing in the morning, to greet the day and embrace the many good things that your life holds. Designing your own prayer or meditation where you express appreciation for each aspect of your life that you feel fortunate to experience is a great way to start. Maybe going through a litany of appreciations that cover the body, mind and spirit may be useful.
Thanksgiving is a special holiday for a many reasons. It has less pressure and fewer expectations than many other holidays and it is solely focused on one of the most powerful and positive emotions we can feel or express. To be thankful for living in our country, for the relative safety we have, for all of the wonderful people and things we have in our life is tremendously beneficial.
Taking time to think about them, express them verbally or write them down is transforming, and Thanksgiving is one of the best days of the year for us to make the conscious effort to express our appreciation and gratitude openly.
Have a great Thanksgiving holiday and don't forget to work on your appreciative mindset today!
Dr. Scott E. Smith is a licensed psychologist with Spectrum Behavioral Health in Arnold, Annapolis and Crofton. To contact him, call 410-757-2077 or write to 1509 Suite F, Ritchie Highway, Arnold MD 21012.