Benefits Of Practicing Gratitude As A Caregiver

November is National Family Caregiver Month and National Gratitude Month.  

National Gratitude Month  encourages us to embrace the power of gratitude.  Gratitude is more than simply saying “thank you.”   Gratitude’s amazing powers have the ability to shift us from focusing on the negative to appreciating what is positive in our lives. Practicing daily gratitude gives us a deeper connection to ourselves, the world around us, and to our spirituality.  

Research has shown that gratitude can enhance our moods, decrease stress, and drastically improve our overall level of health and wellbeing.  On average, grateful people tend to have fewer stress-related illnesses and experience less depression and lowered blood pressure, they are more physically fit, they are happier, have a higher income, more satisfying personal and professional relationships, and will be better liked.

National Family Caregivers Month recognizes the dedication of family members who provide round the clock care to loved ones. When medical conditions demand attention, family steps into roles, they are often unprepared to accept. They become caregivers instead of partners or friends. Sometimes this change occurs suddenly or over time.

Caregivers rarely have time for themselves. There’s always another thing to be done. However, a caregiver requires rest, too.

So this month, I want to spend time on The  Caregiver Cup  episodes to talk about one of the best practices you can incorporate into your daily routine and that is gratitude.  

Gratitude is the human way of acknowledging the good things of life.  But you just can’t say I am grateful and you see positivity and feel happier.  It requires a practice and you need to want to do it.  

It’s a muscle you have to build.  Then it requires practice to do it naturally and the result will lead to a mindset that focuses on positivity, good and more happiness.    

“Gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions.”  Zig Ziglar