From the Dean of College

GEM - Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness

Gratitude is paying attention to the things that we have right now, and not worrying about what we don’t have. We practise this by noticing the positives that exist around us.

Research shows that practising gratitude rewires our brains to overcome the negativity bias (which can lead to anxiety and depression) and see the world for what we are thankful for. It is also shown to broaden thinking, and increase physical health through improved sleep and attitude to exercise.

Link to Parents Gratitude Learning and Resources 

Working on gratitude helps us to be thankful and appreciate what we have in our lives, rather than focusing on what we don’t have or what we want. When we practise being grateful, we start to scan the world to look for positives – this only takes 21 days! 

Practising gratitude every day increases our levels of energy, and helps us to feel happier and more focused, determined and optimistic. It even helps us have better sleep, lowers levels of anxiety and depression and we are less likely to get sick. So many benefits – let’s all try to be grateful for the things and people in our lives every day!

Your sons and daughters practise gratitude regularly in their pastoral classes and their subject classes as well. We encourage you to discuss gratitude with your children and try to incorporate it in some of your family time together. We find the best moments are short, sharp moments of reflection and appreciation of what is going well or went well that day. 

WHOLE FAMILY ACTIVITY: Gratitude Scavenger Hunt

As a family create a scavenger hunt list of things that make you happy or you are grateful for.  You can make your own list or use the examples below:

• Something that makes you happy
• Something you love to smell
• Something you enjoy looking at
• Something that is your favourite colour
• Something you like in nature
• Something that is useful for you
• Each member of the family uses the list and has to find as many things as they can.
• You can hunt for things inside or outside, or both. You can hunt for real things, or you can also do this using magazines or pictures from the internet.
• After a set amount of time hunting, come back together, have a look at what each person collected and let them explain why they are grateful for each item.

FAMILY HABIT BUILDER:

Every night at dinner, have each person talk about their favourite thing about that day. Small, simple moments that made you feel good during the day!

COMPLAINT INTO COMPLIMENT:

This is an interesting strategy to turn some household negatives into a moment of gratitude. 

“ I don’t like this dinner” = “ Isn’t it wonderful you have dinner each night”

“ I hate doing this homework = “ How lucky are you to have an education”