THANKSGIVING: THE WELLNESS INGREDIENT
By Creation Life
As Thanksgiving approaches, our thoughts turn to family gatherings, festive meals and autumn’s splendor. But beyond the stuffing and pumpkin pie lies an opportunity to express gratitude and reap its abundant benefits for our wellbeing. This cherished American holiday invites us to pause and count our blessings, a practice that nourishes our bodies, minds and spirits.
The tradition of Thanksgiving traces back to the Pilgrims’ celebration of their first successful harvest in the New World. They gathered to give thanks to God for His provision and protection through difficult times. Today, Thanksgiving continues as a time to express gratitude for life’s gifts both big and small.
While gratitude has long been considered a virtue, modern research now reveals its power as a catalyst for wellness. A growing body of evidence shows that cultivating thankfulness yields a bounty of benefits for our whole person.
A new study published in JAMA Psychiatry examined the link between gratitude and mortality. The researchers followed 49,275 female nurses for three years, measuring their levels of gratitude and tracking health outcomes. The results were striking — women who reported the highest levels of gratitude had a 9% lower risk of death from any cause compared to those with the lowest gratitude levels. Notably, the study found an even stronger association with cardiovascular mortality, where women in the highest gratitude group had a 15% lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease.
This reduced mortality risk persisted even after accounting for factors like physical health, lifestyle behaviors and depression. The study provides the first empirical evidence that experiencing grateful emotions is associated with increased longevity in older adults.
The life-extending effects of gratitude appear to stem from its wide-ranging impact on our wellbeing. Previous research has linked gratitude to an array of health benefits including:
Improved cardiovascular health markers
Enhanced immune function
Better sleep quality
Reduced inflammation
Lower blood pressure
Decreased depression and anxiety
Greater resilience to stress
Gratitude seems to set in motion an upward spiral of positivity. As we notice and appreciate life’s gifts, we’re more likely to engage in healthy behaviors, nurture supportive relationships and maintain an optimistic outlook. This creates a self-reinforcing cycle of improved physical, mental and spiritual health.
“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:18
From a faith perspective, gratitude deepens our connection to God as the source of all blessings. Scripture repeatedly exhorts us to give thanks in all circumstances. Now science affirms the wisdom of this timeless counsel. When we are thankful, we align ourselves with God’s design for human flourishing.
So how can we tap into gratitude’s transformative power this Thanksgiving and beyond? Here are some practical ways to weave thankfulness into daily life:
Keep a gratitude journal, noting 3-5 things you’re grateful for each day
Express appreciation to others through words, notes or small acts of kindness
Say grace before meals, savoring God’s provision
Take a gratitude walk, noticing the beauty in nature
Reframe challenges by finding lessons or silver linings
Volunteer or donate to causes you care about
As you gather with loved ones this Thanksgiving, consider starting a tradition of sharing gratitudes around the table. Invite each person to name something they’re thankful for. Create a gratitude tree, writing blessings on paper leaves to hang on branches. Or simply take a quiet moment to breathe deeply and count your blessings.
By intentionally practicing gratitude, we open ourselves to receive the fullness of life. We train our hearts and minds to see abundance rather than scarcity. And we invite God’s peace and joy to permeate our whole being.
