Gratitude: Definition, Meaning and How to Use It for Mental Health

By Georgia Peters-Gill

NOTE: As before, sometimes when we are advised to be grateful, it can feel like our problems are not being validated, or that our character is being judged. This blog post is intended to suggest a new, more helpful, way of thinking about the obstacles that we face, rather than to diminish them.

Why be thankful?

The practise of gratitude enables us to recondition our minds to notice the positive. Because, whilst there may be many things going wrong in our lives, there are also many things going right. Once you get in the habit of expressing gratitude, your mind will take over from you and start to notice the good subconsciously.

It can be difficult at first, to practise gratitude, as we tend to focus on the things that we do not have. When we compare ourselves to people who are more fortunate than us, we often forget that there are many people who are less fortunate than us. When we notice attributes in others that we want, we forget that we have attributes that others want too.

Before you complain about washing the dishes, remember that some people do not have running water.

How to feel grateful?

When we express gratitude, it is the feeling of gratitude which is transformative rather than the act of thanking. We can generate the feeling of gratitude within ourselves by thinking about what life would be like if we did not have the thing that we were grateful for. The following is an example of a dialogue that I might have with myself when I am looking to feel grateful.

What are you grateful for?

I am grateful to have a part-time job, I guess...

What would it mean to you if you did not have a job?

It would mean that I would not have enough money to spend on the things that I need. For example, I would not be able to afford my car.

What would it mean to you if you could not afford your car?

I would not have freedom and independence. For example, I would not be able to visit my family as often, and I might miss out on some important family events like birthday’s because I would not be able to get there.

When I go through this process, it can elicit strong feelings and emotions. This is how we can tap into a powerful state of gratitude. When we talk ourselves through this dialogue, we find that the mundane and often overlooked things in our lives are often bringing us closer to the things that make our lives so meaningful.