Parenting Tip
The Gift of Gratitude
According to the National Institutes of Health, nearly 1 out of every 3 adolescents between the ages of 13 and 18 will experience an anxiety disorder. Whether the culprit is social media, lack of sleep, increased scholastic pressure, or screen time, the verdict is simple: Our kids need help.
Thankfully, emerging evidence reveals an organic way to combat anxiety and depression: gratitude. According to author Jerusha Clark, “Gratitude and anxiety are mutually exclusive neural pathways. You physiologically cannot be grateful and anxious at the same time.” One way to foster gratitude is to simply pay attention to your life. Be fully present in every single tiny moment, and remember that life itself is a gift. So, in a world filled with darkness, we’re choosing to see the light, to be grateful for the good.
As you come together as a family this (Christmas), consider placing a journal on the kitchen table and encourage your family members to write down all they are thankful for. Then, as you gather around the table, take turns reading what everyone shared. You just might be amazed at all God has done in and through your family this year.
This article taken from The Culture Translator Vol. 5, Issue 48.