Recently, I saw a study that captured my attention because it aimed to understand the extent to which participants could establish a habit of gratitude thinking before sleeping (Lo & Leung, 2020). The researchers defined gratitude as an inclination to appreciate and savor daily events and experiences. Here is what the researchers found.

This is my favorite time of the year. I like everything about it. But what I like most is how everyone is just a little bit more cheery and kind. And there is a sense of anticipation in the air. However, this year I've noticed a difference. We are a lot less kind, maybe even impatient with others. No question, there’s good reason to feel a little sad and disappointed as the pandemic rages. However, we have a lot more control over our level of happiness than we may believe.

With Thanksgiving and the beginning of the holiday season, we are constantly reminded to turn our attention toward celebrating the good things in our lives with family and friends. However, this year will be different. Most of the things we have done in the past will drastically change. Because of this, many of us might be having difficulty finding reasons to feel grateful. With this in mind, I decided to share a personal story to offer a little inspiration.

Many of us are working at home and so are our partners and spouses. Plus, students are home from school. And we all need our space. The problem is that most of us do not have homes that are set up to accommodate each of us having a private workspace. We’ll be able to get through this if we manage our stress and maintain a positive perspective. And, this is where gratitude can help.