Thanksgiving vs Gratitude
We are in the week where so many families will give thanks and gratitude for what they have. I thought it would be good to add some context and a little more meaning to the words.
Merriam-Webster tells us that being grateful is a feeling of expressing gratitude while thankful means experiencing pleasure, satisfaction, or delight. Gratitude is Internal, Thanksgiving is External, Gratitude is Ongoing, Thanksgiving is Temporary, Gratitude is active, and Thanksgiving is passive.
Gratefulness is independent, deep, and long-term. Gratitude is the appreciation and awareness of the blessings that exist in our lives. Being grateful is about experiencing this appreciation without the need for someone else to do something for us.
Thankfulness is dependent, surface-level, and short-lived. We should be thankful for the gifts and kindness we receive.
Thankfulness is an emotion for something experienced, gratitude is an attitude of appreciation. It can be for something you aspire to or something you possess. Gratitude involves being thankful, but it is more than that. Gratitude means being appreciative of life daily even when nothing exciting happens.
Expressing gratitude is associated with a host of mental and physical benefits. It focuses on what you have or about to get, verses what you lack (which is one of the rules of the mind). Studies have shown that it can improve sleep, mood, and immunity. Gratitude can also decrease stress, depression, anxiety, heart health, difficulties with chronic pain and risk of disease.
Over time, the practice of gratitude can alter the brain circuitry in a manner that dampens the impact of negative emotions and builds resilience. If there was a pill which could do all of these things , everyone would be taking it.
Of course, like building a muscle at the gym, this is not a one and done exercise. But practicing gratitude increases dopamine and serotonin which improve mood and positive feelings.
So many studies show the changes that happen with an attitude of gratitude.
So, for this special occasion and every occasion, give thanks and be grateful in all you do.