Gratitude
In no particular order, these are some things I’m thankful for:
Chocolate Milk
Macaroni & Cheese
Fires in the fire place
Fires in the backyard
Kindness
Jesus
Socks
Family
Gratitude, very simply put, is the act of giving thanks; recognizing the good things you have even in the midst of challenging times. This may come in the form of another person, an object, a trait, a talent, or a past poor experience that you’ve overcome. Believe it or not, research suggests that gratitude can play a role in a person’s resilience. It can lead to more positivity, life satisfaction, hope, perceived support and lead to a decrease in depression, anxiety, stress, negativity, athlete burnout and psychological distress (Gabana et al., 2022).
As individuals practice gratitude, they are more likely to boost resiliency as they become more prone to reframing negative experiences or situations and enduring when they face challenges. Those who have higher resilience tend to bounce back from setbacks more quickly and worry less because of their ability to recognize positivity even when challenges arise.
Sports can bring a variety of emotions and challenges and learning to face these with a growth mindset can play a huge role in an athlete’s mental toughness.
So maybe you’ve focused on gratitude before, maybe you’ve spent the month of November pointing out what you’re thankful for, or maybe this is a completely new idea to you. Regardless of where you are, I want to break this down for you and share some ways to really hone in on gratitude as a practice.
The Little Things
Sometimes we get so caught up in the mundane we fail to appreciate the little things. Try journaling about the simplicities of life that you are grateful for. Finding a front row parking space at Walmart when it’s raining and you have four kids to get out of the car. Chocolate milk. A compliment. Birds chirping. 72 degree weather in Oklahoma. A cup of coffee.
You Gratitude
I know, I know! Sometimes it’s really hard to talk about ourselves in a positive light, but…what are you grateful for in yourself. Perseverance. Health. Patience. Ability to drain threes from far beyond the three point line. The fact that you are naturally speedy Gonzales. Humility.
Other People Gratitude
Now, what are you grateful for in other people. Generosity. Loving and supportive parents. An encouraging coach. Good teacher.
Challenge Gratitude
Think about a past challenge or stressful experience that you overcame. What are you thankful for in regards to this? Consider the growth that occurred because of the challenge. A past injury teaching you to never take your sport for granted. A new coach coming onboard and you facing the stress with positivity. The loss of a loved one or change in family dynamics. Juggling collegiate sports, classes, family, friends, relationships, etc. with mental fortitude.
The Big Things
Who are some influential people in your life, what are some significant experiences or major events that you are grateful for? Your high school basketball coach who shaped you into the person you are. Making it to the next level. Finding faith. Moving to a new town.
Team Gratitude
Now think about your teammates. What are some aspects you are thankful for in your teammates. Being able to trust your point guard. Knowing that they give everything they have. Someone being so stinkin’ fast. A certain player being steady in the midst of stressful situations. Someone going to the gym day after day and putting in the extra work to take your team a step further.
Whether it be writing down one thing you are thankful for, spending 5 minutes journaling, or taking some time to write a letter of thanks to someone else; I challenge you to find time each day to practice gratitude!
If you’d like to more about techniques to develop your mental toughness in sports and life, head on over to the free resources page and grab the gratitude worksheet OR feel free to reach out to Brooke today.
Reference
Gebanna, N. T., Joel Wong, Y., D’Addario, A., & Chow, G. M. (2022). The athlete gratitude group (TAGG): Effects of coach participation in a positive psychology intervention with youth athletes. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 34(2), 229-250. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200.2020.1809551
