Gratitude Attitude: Yes It's Achievable
Whether your goal is to try and prevent dementia in your future, or your loved one is battling dementia, gratitude can be a big aid in combating the symptoms. Gratitude can bestow elasticity in your brain. Exercising gratitude attitude can lessen negative feelings. This in turn can be "a buffer against anxiety and depression".
Studies on gratitude and having a thankful heart have shown significant drops in stress and sad feelings. Whether you’re living or working in the Dearborn area or the Downriver area, there will be times in your life that you’re faced with adversity and sadness. Negative emotions can be anything from finding out the gas prices at your local gas station in Allen Park have raised their prices to losing a loved one. Be prepared and practice gratitude!
There are many ways we can all practice having a grateful life. If you want to keep it simple, just list of 1 to 3 things when you wake up that you’re grateful for. Some examples may be that you woke up to face another day, that you have shelter, you have food, or maybe you’re grateful for you spouse. Repeat what you’re grateful for throughout the day and keep doing this every day for a couple weeks. You have to keep the practice up. You can remind yourself by setting up alarms on your phone throughout the day.
Now that you have your 2 or 3 things, you’re grateful for and you’re repeating them throughout the day, start building on those 2 or 3 things. If you’re listing waking up to face another day, why not add that you woke up and had a good night’s sleep or that you woke up and can have your coffee. Keep it simple, but the goal is to start off small and then build on those few things. Eventually, you will be adding more reasons you’re grateful and building on those as well. You won’t have time to dwell on too many negatives in your life.
Gratitude attitude takes practice. You won’t immediately feel positively different. When you started to walk, did you know how to right away or did you have to have practice and support from loved ones? Learning to drive in the Downriver area wasn’t instant, you had to practice. I’m sure many had to practice and practice before being allowed to drive down Outer Dr.! Of course, being able to do almost anything will take time, patience, and lots of practice. It’s a wonderful habit that will take time form, but it’s worth it.
You may also feel silly doing it. So many movies and TV. shows have made fun of those who give themselves pep talks. DON’T LET THAT DISCOURAGE YOU! You don’t have to announce to everyone what you’re practicing. Being grateful and saying to yourself what you’re grateful for can be done when you’re by yourself and without talking out loud. Did you know that by talking to yourself, you can boost your confidence and intelligence? Talking to yourself as if you were talking to a friend or loved one allows you to have more distance from your pessimistic thoughts.
Taking care of yourself should be a priority. If you’re responsible for others, as most of us are, we owe it to them to be the best we can be. If you’re a family caregiver or a caregiver by trade, you must be emotionally healthy! It’s so important! Why not start today by naming what you’re grateful for? Make today the day you start feeling better without needing pills to pop. You will smile more and feel lighter. You have nothing to lose and a healthy soul to gain!
Sources: https://www.alzdiscovery.org/cognitive-vitality/blog/how-does-gratitude-affect-the-brain,
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-clarity/202103/why-should-you-talk-yourself