An Attitude of Gratitude

We in America are good at wanting things. We are a consumer culture. Advertisements on TV show us things to buy. Everyone is concerned with having the latest, greatest, and newest. From the time we are kids, until we are adults, we seem to want, want, want.

Today, however, is a day for giving thanks for what we have. When I was young, I saw a motivational speaker. That speaker's topic was the importance of having an attitude of gratitude. At first blush, I did not really agree with what he said. Why was it important to have gratitude for the things I already had. I always thought my focus should be on my goals, and what I wanted. How on earth are you supposed to reach your goals by focusing on what you already possess.

I have grown and changed much in the intervening years since I saw this motivational speaker. As those of you who follow my blog know, I have had many trials and life experiences which have taught me the importance of being thankful. As it turns out, being thankful is critically important to any goal you might want to achieve in the future, for several reasons:

1. It reminds you of how blessed you already are- No matter how difficult your life is, there are some important things you possess. You possess life, the most precious gift imaginable. In addition, you likely have at least one or two people who love you. When you realize how important the things you have are, the things you want aren't quite so pressing.

2. It relieves stress- Part of the stress that we experience comes from the American rat race. The rat race is an endless pursuit. You run in circles pursuing a career, a higher rung on the corporate ladder, a bigger house, a nicer car, and more money. Ceaselessly pursuing the next big thing creates a feeling of pressure. This pressure turns to anxiety, which leads to stress. People who are under significant negative stress are at higher risk for obesity, heart attack, stroke, and sudden death. Gratitude is like a flood gate which releases the stress when opened. Someone who is grateful on a daily basis is far less likely to hold on to stress.

3. It makes you more likely to get what you want- I don't have a good explanation for this based upon science and nature, but it works. I attribute it to God. If you don't believe in God, you can call it the universe, karma, or whatever you want. Reason would suggest that there is no connection between being grateful for what you have, and getting what you want, but I can tell you from my own life that it works! If you spend time daily focusing on being grateful, many of the things you want will come to you, and you will be less concerned about the things that don't.

As you sit down with your family members to your (hopefully healthy) dinner, spend a minute being thankful for all the blessings in your life. In the end, you will have much more to be grateful for!

M. Jacob Ott, M.D.