Thankful and grateful
The month of November offers us a gentle reminder to practice being thankful and grateful. Not long ago, I realized that I was unclear on how thankfulness and gratefulness could be different. So, I asked AI and this is what I got: Thankful is typically an expression of appreciation for a specific, immediate benefit while grateful implies a deeper more lasting and more reflective state of appreciation. Thankfulness is often situational whereas gratefulness is seen as a more profound emotion and a general state of being or mindset. Also, thankfulness can be a starting point that leads to gratefulness.
The definitions got me thinking about these ideas more. I remembered times when I would say “Thank God for small favors”-like when I'd be running late and the train conductor announced that the train would be skipping stops, so I arrived on time. Then there were instances where I was thankful, and it reminded me of something more significant that made me feel grateful. One example is a job I had that required staff members that wanted to go on vacation to find another staff member to cover their workload. It was always stressful around the holidays since everyone wanted to take days off, but I was fortunate to have colleagues who were willing to help one another sometimes even without the need to reciprocate. I felt grateful to work with people who value being supportive. At that same job, I would routinely greet people I saw in the morning by saying, “Happy (whatever day of the week it was)”. One day, a member of the front desk staff asked me, “Why do you never say, Happy Monday”, to which I replied, “Ugh, who would be happy to come to work on a Monday?” Her response to me was, “Somebody who is out of a job would be happy”. I thanked her in that moment for reminding me to be grateful that even though things at the job were difficult, it would have been harder to not have a job.
Thankfulness and gratitude are powerful emotions that foster a positive mindset and enhance overall well-being. Being thankful involves recognizing and appreciating the good things in life, whether they are big achievements or small everyday moments. Gratitude, on the other hand, goes a step further by cultivating a deeper awareness of the people, experiences, and circumstances that contribute to our happiness.
Practicing gratitude regularly can improve mental health by reducing stress, increasing feelings of contentment, and strengthening relationships. It encourages us to focus on what we have rather than what we lack, shifting perspective away from negativity and towards appreciation. Simple practices like keeping a gratitude journal or quietly reflecting on positive moments can help nurture this mindset. Also, expressing gratitude strengthens social connections by acknowledging the kindness of others, cultivates resilience in the face of challenges, and contributes to enhancing long-lasting fulfillment and genuine happiness.
So, take time to think about what you have to be thankful for today and what you have to be grateful for every day.