Teen life is no walk in the park. Between constant pressure to perform, navigating friendships, and the never-ending scroll of social media, it’s easy to lose sight of the good things. But what if there was a way to feel better, even on the tough days? Enter gratitude: a simple, yet powerful, habit that can boost your mood, strengthen your relationships, and even help you make better choices. But why is practicing gratitude good for you? And how should you do it?
What is Gratitude?
Gratitude is a multitude of things. It is happiness, appreciation, and a genuine feeling of good. It is an emotion of thankfulness for all the things one may take for granted. Gratitude is both a character trait and a state of being. A person can be thankful and positive in general, and experience certain moments of gratitude.
#1 : Generates Optimism
Teens who practice gratitude daily are generally more positive and optimistic. In a study by Dr. Emmons and McCullough, they had three groups journal on either aggravations, neutral events, or gratitude. They found that those who made gratitude lists had a far more positive outlook on life.
Naturally, positivity brings motivation energy. This energy can be used to work on projects and activities that you would want to work on. For teenagers, this can be particularly helpful as it would help with juggling school work and extracurriculars in a productive way.
#2 : Forms Meaningful Connections
When you are grateful, you often make positive gestures to express the gratitude. These positive actions release a hormone known as oxytocin, or the love hormone. As its nickname suggests, oxytocin helps us connect with others and make meaningful relationships.
For teenagers, building strong and healthy relationships is one of the most important things to do. The relationships cultivated during childhood and this time period of life determine the type of relations you are to make during adulthood. By practicing gratitude, you can ensure that strong and healthy connections are made so that you have a secure future with the people around you.
#3 : Encourages Healthier Choices
Gratitude has also proven to help people with making healthier choices that they may otherwise struggle to make. In a PAW lab study, highschoolers were asked to write gratitude lists over the course of the research. In the end, it was found that the highschoolers made healthier dietary decisions than their peers who did not write the lists.
Fueling our bodies in the healthiest and most nutritious ways is important for people of all ages, but especially for teens. During adolescence, the body is growing rapidly, at a pace only previously seen during the few years of life. To fuel healthy growth so that the body matures to its full capacity, it is necessary to eat healthy foods that provide necessary nutrients. However, making healthy choices with food is quite hard when the healthy option is the most satisfying. When you practice gratitude, you are more likely to make the healthy decision rather than the unhealthy one, leading your body down a path to success.
How to Practice Gratitude
Teens should definitely practice gratitude, but how? Gratitude can be practiced many different ways, both consciously and subconsciously. Once you begin practicing, it’ll be much easier to do it without second thought, helping you gain these benefits without much effort.
Journaling
Journaling is the most common—and convenient—form of practicing gratitude. All you need is a pencil and paper, and as little as ten minutes a day to list things you’re grateful for. It may feel odd at first, but with time, it’ll be a habit, and a great one at that. If you want to learn more about the benefits of journaling, click here!
Giving Back
Giving back is one of the best ways to show your thankfulness to others. It can be small and big things, depending on what you are grateful for and how grateful you are for it. It can be as simple as saying “thank you” or doing chores around the house, or as big as sacrificing something important to you for them. Gifting and giving is an amazing form of practicing gratitude, as it not only benefits you, but also the person you are grateful for.
Taking a Walk
Just walking outside and noticing what is around you is enough to practice gratitude. Many of us take for granted the natural world that keeps us alive, and it’s about time we appreciate it. Just take a short walk around your neighborhood to admire the world outside. Notice the small things, like berries and birds, and understand how much they provide for us. Now, not only are you practicing gratitude, but you’re also getting out of the house and relaxing in nature.
Conclusion
So, what have you learnt? Well, being grateful is not only something that helps others, but it’s also something that helps yourself. It’s easy to get lost in the hurt and unfairness, so much so that the negativity is what controls your mentality. As hard as it might be, you have to pull yourself up, think about all the things you get to do, and move forward. The injustice may never leave, but your positivity and gratitude is what will keep it at bay.