SAP: Student Assistance Program
November 2021 : Gratitude
Gratitude
“Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold rather a large amount of Gratitude.”
–A. A. Milne
Gratitude is a mindset!
Gratitude is about being aware of what’s around us, not just what’s within our reach or within our circle of influence.
Being grateful is good for our physical, social, and mental health, according to gratitude expert Robert Emmons of the University of California at Davis. He knows because he has studied the impact of gratitude on thousands of people of varying ages. What are these benefits?
- Physical benefits of having an attitude of gratitude include a stronger immune system, lower blood pressure, better quality sleep, and waking refreshed.
- Mental benefits of gratitude include having more positive emotions, being more alert, and experiencing more joy and optimism.
- Social benefits of gratitude include being more helpful, compassionate, forgiving, and outgoing.
Take the Quiz
“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Purpose of This Emotion
People can use gratitude to form new social relations or to strengthen current ones.
Acts of gratitude can be used to apologize, make amends and help solve other problems.
Alternatively, people may feel gracious because it can be an intrinsically rewarding process. Simply being grateful for being alive is a great way to motivate oneself to seize the day.
The idea that tomorrow is not guaranteed is a strong motivator for some people to be their “best self” today. https://positivepsychology.com/gratitude-appreciation/
How to Teach Children Gratitude: It's more than just saying thank you
Model saying Thank You and write Thank You notes
Start a Gratitude journal and provide writing prompts
Ask Gratitude Questions
Perform Acts of Kindness together
Model Gratitude and appreciation for everyday pleasures and experiences
Family Gratitude Project
Establish a Gratitude Ritual at dinner or bedtime
Look for the Silver Lining in bad situations
Finding Strength Through Gratitude
A doctor who serves communities in dire need shares how gratitude helps him find light in the darkness.
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/podcasts/item/finding_strength_through_gratitude
Gratitude Can Calm Our Urge to Compete with Others
Gratitude could help us get through the pandemic without turning on each other, a new study suggests.
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/gratitude_can_calm_our_urge_to_compete_with_others
GRATITUDE THERAPY: Free Online Video
Gratitude offers you the opportunity to no longer take things for granted so that you can appreciate everything in your life exactly as it is right now, in this moment, without any judgment.
Gratitude Writing Prompts for kids
Online Gratitude Journal for Teens and Adults
SAP Can Help with Student Mindfulness!
What is Mindfulness?
What SAP Can Offer:
- short-term one-on-one problem solving services including but not limited to: follow up from a crisis, follow up on a former SAP case, support for re-entry into school, substance use policy violation, support while waiting for community counseling services
- Groups! These groups are: psycho-educational and age appropriate. Some examples of groups are: Friendship Skills, Anger Management, Career Choices, Healthy Decision Making, Coping Skills, Addiction Education, Grief & Loss, Children of an Addict, and many more. Ask your school's SAP counselor if you are looking for a specific group topic!
How Do I Find the SAP Team?
To reach out to your SAP team, contact your school counselor, teacher, principal, etc. You can also go to your school's website and see if your SAP liaison is listed there.