Wellbeing

Gratitude

We are so thankful to have all of our students back onsite with us know after our 5th lockdown in Melbourne.  We have so many things to be grateful for as we head out of lockdown, sports back, we can eat out and we can drive to see our families (even though it is outdoors).  The science behind gratitude being a powerful tool in promoting mental health is constantly growing.  

Martin Seligman’s work in positive psychology has shone a light on the power of positive emotions and the use of gratitude to enhance  wellbeing and promote engagement in learning.  Gratitude is crucial in building good social relationships and can strengthen the relationships between people as the emotion of gratitude can help us to see the good in our relationship with others, and builds stronger ties between us. 

Gratitude helps us reframe our thinking and train our brain to look for the positive things around us. Gratitude is an easy thing to practice and below are some simple ideas that you might like to try:

Grateful outlook 

• Gratitude Journal - Take time to write or draw things that you are grateful for each day
• Three great thing - At the end of the day think about three great things that have happened (this a good exercise to do at the dinner table or in the car on the way home from school).
• Have a Gratitude rock - pick a special rock to have in your pocket or on your desk and every time it catches your attention hold it and say something that you are grateful for.
• Go for a Gratitude walk: The goal of the gratitude walk is to observe the things you see around you as you walk. Take it all in. Be aware of nature, the colors of the trees, the sounds the birds make, and the smell of the plants. Notice how your feet feel when you step onto the ground.

Grateful expression

Gratitude expression is when we act on our feelings of gratitude

• Create a Gratitude box: On the paper, write down a heartfelt message of gratitude to your loved one. If you’re not sure how to start, here are some suggestions to begin your message:

1. “Thank you for…”
2.  “What I love about you…”
3.  “My holiday wish for you…”

• Gratitude Letter or Email or a Gratitude Visit Write or visit a person you are particularly grateful to have in your life. Be detailed. Express all the wonderful qualities about this person, and how they personally have affected your life for the better.