The Importance of Gratitude Lists

By Ava Walter, 12th Grade

Developing gratitude lists is an easy and meaningful practice that can shift our perspective and improve mental health and well-being significantly. Developing a practice of gratitude allows us to intentionally acknowledge the things we appreciate in life and moves the focus away from lack, and onto appreciation. This perspective shift has important implications for mental health and emotional well-being.

The most obvious thing developing gratitude lists can help with is creating positive thinking.

When we reflect on our lives to think about things we are thankful for, we are forced to think of the good in our lives regardless of how big or small those things may be. Encouraging gratitude helps counteract negative thought patterns and provides people with an opportunity to be encouraged by the things they are grateful for instead of focusing on their worry and feelings of lack. Grateful individuals focus on their feelings of thankfulness and joy rather than negativity and anxiety, allowing them to benefit emotionally from their gratitude centered mindset.

Developing gratitude lists can also strengthen relationships. We express gratitude when we recognize what other people add to our lives and deepen feelings of social connection. When we demonstrate gratitude for our friends, family, and other people in our lives, we indirectly contribute to our social connections, because we allow ourselves to appreciate each other and what others contribute to our lives. Acknowledging that you appreciate someone in your life can help you to strengthen relationships and encourage deeper, more meaningful interactions.

In addition, gratitude lists can facilitate mindfulness. Thinking of what we are grateful for, allowing for reflection, requires us to be in the present moment. This allows us to reflect for a moment and be more mindful, become more aware of our surroundings, and experiences that can contribute to our appreciation of life in even the simplest ways. This practice leads, over time, to deeper happiness and satisfaction in savoring life's simple pleasures.

Finally, writing down what you're grateful for can also be a good tool for coping with stressful times. When stressful times lead us to stressful thoughts, making a gratitude list can provide comfort and remind us who and what is truly important in our lives. When we are reminded of the good in our lives, it provides a buffer against negative emotions and allows us to view our challenges or self-doubts from a more balanced perspective.

Developing a gratitude list is a greatly beneficial undertaking that can promote positive thinking, deeper development of relationships, mindfulness, and coping with stressful times. Writing gratitude lists in our life helps develop a more optimistic perspective, which contributes to our overall emotional and mental health well-being. Developing this simple act of reflection can affect the quality of life, and help us enjoy the richness of the human experience as much as possible.