An Attitude of Gratitude and a Giving Spirit: Keys to a Meaningful Thanksgiving

by Derek H. Suite, M.D.

“I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.” ―Maya Angelou

When things are really bad like right now during this pandemic —that’s when an attitude of gratitude can bestow benefits. The main biological benefit pf giving thanks is the lowering of our stress levels as we seek reasons to be thankful in difficult situations.

Lower stress levels are linked to improved physical and mental health outcomes, improved mood, contentment, and overall well-being. By the way, the converse is true, persistent feelings of dissatisfaction and discontent have been linked to diminished health.

So, how does this gratitude thing work? Well, instead of lamenting that we can’t see our loved ones in the traditional ways we would like to this Thanksgiving, we can remind ourselves that because we love them, we are willing to re-invent the ways we will share Thanksgiving with them so that we can celebrate many more holidays with them.

As we sacrifice by not having our usual gatherings this Thanksgiving, we can also take a few moments to recall how many great Thanksgiving gatherings we have enjoyed over the past several years, and see the limitations of this Thanksgiving as a temporary anomaly that hopefully becomes a distant memory that well reminisce about one sweet day.

And if gratitude is not our thing—or just too difficult to access this holiday—we can focus on the second half of the word, Thanksgiving. The cool thing about giving is that it gratifies the giver as well as the receiver. Giving also takes our minds off of “our story” and focuses our energy on making a difference in the life of someone else. It has been said that the act of giving relieves stress, anxiety, and pain—not for the recipient but for the giver.

And there is always something to give. Especially with so many people hurting and suffering this Thanksgiving because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some have lost loved ones; some have lost employment—and many have lost hope. These losses and unfortunate circumstances provide numerous opportunities for us to make a difference by finding a way to give. Especially this Thanksgiving, we can give our time, knowledge, talents, encouragement, acknowledgment, thoughts, compliments, kindness, smiles, love, prayers—and monetary donations to those who are hungry, hurting, or in dire need.

And, guess what, giving costs us very little. In the words of Anne Frank, “No one ever became poor by giving.”

If you or someone you know needs some help with accessing an attitude of gratitude or would like to learn more about the power of giving, feel free to connect with a full circle coach today. In the meantime, be well, stay safe–and remember to find 10 things each day you can give thanks for.