How Can Gratitude Make You More Resilient?
In this month’s post:
Framing setbacks in the grand scheme of things.
How gratitude helps reveal the gift of opportunity.
Gratitude and motivation.
A quote for you.
And a thought...
Defaulting to gratitude during tough times isn’t inherently part of human nature. Due to our negativity bias and the tendency to give more weight to negative events compared to positive ones, our focus often becomes consumed by challenges when they arise.
Have you ever found yourself constantly imagining the worst-case scenarios or endlessly dwelling on a problem?
It’s natural to focus on difficulties. However, during moments when we’re knocked down, gratitude acts as a catalyst for recovery, helping us realize things might not be as dire as they seem and allowing us to move forward.
This unintuitive link between gratitude and resilience is powerful. I discovered this connection during my unique recovery from a spinal cord injury. With awareness and intention, this process can consistently help you overcome challenges.
Here are a few ways that choosing gratitude, even in the wake of disaster, can support progress:
1. Gratitude Helps You Frame Setbacks in the Grand Scheme of Things
A gracious perspective requires viewing your situation through a broader lens. Focusing solely on the problem prevents you from seeing the wider context, which often includes positive elements or less severe aspects of the situation. Understanding that things are often not as bad as they seem—or at least recognizing the presence of positive aspects—lays a foundation for progress. With a gracious perspective, you can turn catastrophes into catalysts for change, enabling solution-based thinking and transforming obstacles into opportunities.
2. Gratitude Helps You See the Gift of Opportunity
Gratitude changes your physiology by producing complex neurochemistry. Neurotransmitters like oxytocin, serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins support activation in the brain’s frontal lobe—the center for rational thinking. During crises, finding something to be grateful for can enhance how you perceive and approach your problem.
3. Gratitude and Motivation
Realizing your difficulties within the grand scheme of things can boost motivation. When you acknowledge that others might wish to have your problems, it enhances your drive to work toward a solution. Appreciation for your situation and opportunities makes you more likely to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and get to work on resolving your issues.
A Quote:
“Gratitude compels you to do your best, not from a basis of performance,
but from a basis of true realization of what you have been given in life.
These gifts, which you appreciate, should never be taken for granted.”
A Thought:
We don’t bounce back. We bounce forward.
Gratitude works to change your physiology and psychology in the face of adversity when it is genuine. While you can’t fake feeling thankful, practicing gratitude, even in difficult times, can become a natural response. Depending on your situation, you might have to make a real effort to find the good. However, when you frame your difficulties relative to those of others, focus on your opportunities, and feel genuinely thankful, gratitude becomes a secret weapon for resilience.
In my next post, we’ll dive deeper into the neurochemistry of gratitude and explore what science reveals about the benefits of activating gratitude. Stay tuned!
If this resonates, don’t hesitate to reach out and book a call with me.
And grab a copy of Never Part of The Plan if you haven’t already :)
Gratefully,
Mike Shaw
