Showing Gratitude this Festive Season

Practicing and undertaking acts of gratitude, whether you’re the receiver or giver, helps cement a healthy mindset and relationship with oneself and those around you.  Across Niño Early Learning Adventures, from our children to our teams and the wider community, gratitude consistently plays an important role in our positive education and learning, with a greater emphasis placed on the festive season, or ‘season of giving’ as it is often referred to.

What is Gratitude?

Gratitude, thankfulness, or gratefulness, from the Latin word gratus, ‘pleasing, thankful’, is a feeling of appreciation felt by and/or similar positive response shown by the recipient of kindness, gifts, help, favours or other kinds of generosity, towards the giver of such gifts.

Benefits of showing and receiving gratitude:

• Gratitude improves physical health. Grateful people experience fewer aches and pains and report feeling healthier than others who don’t place a focus on practicing gratitude. Grateful people are also more likely to take care of their health. They tend to exercise more often and are more likely to attend regular check-ups, which is likely to contribute to a healthier life.
• Gratitude improves psychological health. Practicing gratitude regularly helps to reduce a multitude of toxic emotions, from envy and resentment to frustration and regret. Research shows that gratitude effectively increases happiness and reduces depression.
• Gratitude enhances empathy and reduces aggression. Grateful people are more likely to behave in a more kind-hearted manner, even when others behave less kindly. Focusing on gratitude even during more difficult times promotes more sensitivity and empathy towards other people and a decreased desire to seek revenge.
• Gratitude increases mental strength. Research has shown that gratitude not only reduces stress, but it may also play a major role in overcoming trauma.

Five Simple Ways to Show Gratitude this Festive Season

Following are our top 5 ways to stay focused on gratitude this festive season.

1. Appreciate the little things – We often take some of the simplest things for granted. Make time for the outdoors, savour the taste of what you’re eating or take a moment to smile and appreciate the things you have in life.
2. Show kindness – This is a wonderful time to help others less fortunate. You could volunteer, donate or simply bake something for someone in need.
3. Give genuine compliments / Thank someone – whether verbal or in writing, a compliment and or a thank you, says a ‘million words’, strengthening relationships and our mental health.
4. Spend time with loved ones – Reconnect with old friends, family, and loved ones to celebrate the holidays together.
5. Meditate – take the time to re-establish priorities and focus on the things that we are thankful for.

Learn more about Positive Education at Niño ELA »