STATE OF GRATITUDE

Gratitude comes from the Arabic root "škr" and the word "shukr" (شكر), which means "to thank, feel grateful, praise, exalt." It is derived from the Arabic verb "šakara" (شكر), meaning "he felt grateful, he gave thanks." (Source: Etimolojiturkce.com)

Because of the negative effects that life’s challenges can have on our lives, the state of gratitude can sometimes be forgotten amid daily life. However, the greatest benefit of being able to see happiness and beauty in small things, of turning our attention from what we don’t have to what we do have and giving thanks, and making gratitude a perspective and lifestyle, is for ourselves. This positive state positively affects our nervous system and strengthens our immune system, thereby benefiting our physical and mental health. Trying to see the glass as half full is actually a key to peace in our lives. Being thankful for the presence of a person or an animal in our lives strengthens the bond with them and increases the love energy within us.

It is, of course, completely natural to have goals, desires, and dreams in life. The point I want to emphasize here is that while taking steps toward those goals, we should not overlook becoming aware of what we already have. Things that are 'normal' to us and what we always possess are often the things we most overlook in life. The most common example is simply breathing. While our life is a story between our first and last breath, we often forget to be thankful for breathing. We forget to be thankful for health. We forget to be thankful for being able to eat and taste. During the pandemic, some people lost their sense of taste. How many of those who experienced that now feel grateful for being able to taste again?

To increase gratitude in our lives, we need to train our brains. Often, it takes time for gratitude to replace a habitual state of complaint in our minds. There are various ways to do this. Perhaps keeping a gratitude journal, starting each morning by expressing thanks, going to sleep each night by being grateful for the day, or setting reminders during the day—everyone can adapt the method that suits them best into their life. Turning gratitude into a ritual helps develop the habit of being thankful.

With the awareness that making gratitude a lifestyle requires effort, let’s start dedicating a few minutes each day for ourselves beginning today.

As you read this right now, what are the things in your life that you notice to be thankful for?

Gökçe YILMAZ