Gratitude When We Feel Anxious, Worried, Overwhelmed, or Depressed

I have dealt with each of these feelings a lot in recent weeks (and years), and I’m betting I’m not alone in this. Some of us are more prone to these feelings, but none of us is immune to them. Our children are certainly not immune. Know what I’ve found? Spending time intentionally focusing on gratitude is a great way to combat these feelings. It might not make it all disappear completely, but it can certainly help shift our perspective.

I believe that many times our feelings of anxiety and depression are compounded by our tendency to focus on ourselves. When we can shift our hearts and minds toward thinking of others and toward acknowledging all that we have to be grateful for, the heaviness of anxiety and depression can begin to lessen. Slowing our pace, quieting the noise around us, and breathing more deeply while either speaking or writing these words of gratitude can truly help us reset.

Are there members of your family who particularly struggle with feeling anxious, worried, overwhelmed, or depressed? Work together to focus on gratitude and see if it makes a difference. This is a wonderful opportunity for teachable moments with our kids, as they see us model constructive ways to deal with hard feelings. Taking the time to help our kids learn to cope in positive ways is an incredible gift to them.