Rolling Hills Primary School Newsletter

Chaplain's Chat

Hi Everyone, 

 

Its been a promising couple of weeks as things start to open up again and I’ve seen many new haircuts and bright, new clothes as people start to head outdoors again. Things are far from perfect or normal, but focusing on the negative can be harmful to your mental health. Studies have shown that having an ‘attitude of gratitude’ has many psychological and physical benefits. Some benefits of gratitude include: 

  • Deeper relationships: showing appreciation to people helps you gain more friends and present more opportunities
     
  • Improved physical health: Grateful people are more likely to take care of their health and exercise more often. 
     
  • Improved psychological health: Gratitude reduces toxic emotions such as envy, resentment and regret while increasing satisfaction and happiness
     
  • Gratitude enhances empathy and reduces aggression: People who practice gratitude are less likely to be angry and or retaliate against others. They also experience more sensitivity to the needs of others and empathy. 
     

It can be challenging to change your mindset to focusing on the positives, but if you start small you can start to develop a greater appreciation for the good things in life. So how can you improve gratefulness in your life and cultivate an attitude of gratitude?

 

 

  1. Write it down: Try to keep a gratitude journal. Be specific about what you are grateful for. 
     
  2. Talk about it: Share with others what you are grateful for. Try to make it a daily habit. Make sure you take time to tell the people in your life how much they mean to you. 
     
  3. Mindfulness: Take a break every day to focus on thankfulness and think about who in your life you are thankful for
     
  4. Celebrate the small things: Take time to pause, slow down and savour the small things instead of worrying about the future or past. 
     
  5. Seek it out: Find people who are positive and grateful in life and surround yourself with people who make you happy.

 

Remember! Its not easy to change your mindset straight away, but if you try every day to find something little to be grateful for, you will soon find its easier than you think!.