Gratitude
With the continuing pandemic and another online semester, it can be easy to complain about all the many disappointments we have with our lives. Many of us have moved out of Waterloo and back home with our family. Some may have had plans to travel, work, or volunteer that have been cancelled or postponed. Even without special plans, I think many of us miss the simple pleasures of going out that now seem like extravagances. Just thinking about spending a day out, dining with friends and family in a restaurant, watching a movie in theatres, or going to a festival or concert now makes me wonder why I didn’t appreciate those activities more.
It’s good to let out our emotions, as repressing them take a toll on your body. Repressing negative emotions can be mentally draining, cause chronic stress, and even weaken your immune system as a result. Let out your negative thoughts so that you can focus on making good ones.
That being said, I think it is important to remember that there are still many things to be thankful for. Especially with the uncertainty of COVID-19, staying grounded and keeping an overall positive attitude can help with our mental wellbeing.
Being positive and practicing gratitude can often be easier said than done. As someone who is naturally a realistic and practical person, I tend to think negatively at times. I understand that taking action to be positive can seem unimportant and insignificant, but it all comes down to creating a better environment for yourself mentally. Positive attitude practices allow you to become more emotionally resilient, which can help in your work life and personal life.
There are always things we can find to be grateful for, we may need to just change our perspective a bit. I myself have been trying to do this more often, as I find that it helps me feel less anxious and keeps me in a better mood. One way I have been trying to practice this is by thinking of things I am grateful for and writing them down. When I am particularly worried about something, I write something generally uplifting or specific to what my problem is on a sticky note and stick it on the wall in front of my desk. By seeing the words whenever I look up, it makes me repeat and reinforce the words in my head.
Think about your own feelings and experiences. Is there anything you’re disappointed about that could also be something to be grateful about? If you can, try the sticky note method or take some time once or twice a week to list down 3-5 things you’re grateful for. What has been troubling you lately, and is there any way you can turn it into something to be thankful for?
On behalf of the ENGWellness Team, thanks for checking out this post! Please connect with us if you have anything that you would like to see in the future: ENGWellness@uwaterloo.ca.