Mental Toughness #7

This week we are going to mention gratitude. Professor Barry looked into research by Dr. Robert Emmons at UC-Davis that suggested "consciously cultivating an attitude of gratitude builds up a sort of psychological immune system that can cushion us when we fall" ("How Gratitude Can Help..."). So I asked myself the question, what am I grateful for? For one, I am grateful for my health and waking up everyday. I am grateful for my family, my support system, always by my side. I am thankful for my friends I have at home and the new friends I have already grown so close with. I am thankful for my experiences and being able to explore my own life and create memories for myself. I am thankful that I am able to have a college career, some are not as lucky as I. I am especially thankful everyday for living the life I do.

Taking all of these gratitudes into consideration, I then question there helpfulness in my college life. I agree with Dr. Emmons that "grateful people are more resilient to stress, whether minor everyday hassles or major personal upheavals" ("How Gratitude Can Help..."). Whenever I am having a really stressful day, I remember all the good things in my life. I look to my family and friends for comfort. Whenever I am having an extremely tough day with classes, I just remember that I am lucky to even have this shot in college and I need to take advantage. Being grateful for what I have, versus dwelling on what I lack, gets me through everyday obstacles. 

I think it is important for everyone to try and be grateful for something everyday. It bothers me when everyone decides to finally take their gratitudes into consideration only one day a year, Thanksgiving. Most people will share their thoughts and gratitudes on that day, not realizing that they should be thankful for these things all the time.


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Works Cited: 

       Emmons, Robert. “How Gratitude Can Help You Through Hard Times.” Greater Good: the Science of a Meaningful Life. the Greater Good Science Center, UC-Berkeley, 12 Nov. 2013. Web. 14 Nov. 2013. <http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/what_stops_gratitude>.