5 Reasons Why Gratitude is Crucial in these Uncertain Times

Welcome to the gratitude adventure series—an exciting learning adventure where we will explore different facets of gratitude and the many wonderful blessings gratitude invites into our lives.

In 2009, leadership expert Simon Sinek delivered what has now become a widely popular talk at TEDxPuget Sound titled "Start with WHY." Simon used the concept of the golden circle to draw our attention to an important discovery, a pattern common to all inspiring leaders and organizations. These inspiring leaders and organizations think, act and communicate—always starting with WHY. Starting with WHY gives clarity to purpose and belief. Because they start with WHY, these effective leaders are much more able to inspire action. Lending from this profound wisdom, our first article in this learning adventure is a question that points to purpose. It is a question crafted to spark your curiosity and lead you on in this adventure. Let's begin our learning adventure with the question - WHY GRATITUDE?

WHY GRATITUDE?

Why is gratitude important? Why is gratitude relevant at such a time as this? Why is gratitude crucial in these Uncertain Times? These are pertinent questions. As effective people, we should always start with why?

To begin, there is a world of difference between having a "Grateful Heart" and simply saying the words "Thank You." My purpose in writing is to help you cultivate a "Grateful Heart"—embracing gratitude as an attitude, a mindset, a perspective, and a lens through which we look at every circumstance that life brings our way. When gratitude goes from being mere words (Thank You) to becoming a deeply rooted attitude, it can radically transform our hearts and lives.

So "Why Gratitude?" We will answer this question by exploring some of the significant challenges our world is experiencing and how gratitude helps us respond to these challenges.

Challenge #1: These are Hard Times?

Think about the COVID-19 pandemic and public health restrictions, wars, natural disasters, social unrest, increasing insecurity, gun violence, terrorism, sky-high inflation, and economic issues. You name it! It is pretty obvious these are hard times. More than ever before, as a people, we need to be resilient. We need to develop the ability to face adversity without breaking.

In these hard times, gratitude can make a big difference. Several studies have shown that?gratitude can make us stronger and more resilient. The life of King David in the Bible also confirms this.?(We will take a deep dive into the life of this giant killer in our last superhero-styled article in this series tagged - Gratitude Man). A grateful heart can energize, bring hope and help you thrive in hard times. If there was ever a time we needed the resilience-infusing benefit of gratitude, it is right now—in these uncertain times.

Challenge #2: Mental Health Crises

According to WHO, mental health conditions, particularly depression, are the leading cause of disability in the world. Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among 15-29-year-olds and accounts for more than 1 in 100 deaths globally.

Amid these crises, it is comforting to know that?gratitude can safeguard our minds and give us more life satisfaction.?A grateful heart helps reduce unhappiness, burnout, stress, and depression. A grateful disposition to life boosts our hope, positive moods, sense of meaning, and overall life satisfaction.

Challenge #3: Relationships are Falling Apart

In today's world, stable marriage relationships are becoming rare and broken homes are rising. It is touching to witness innocent children who quite honestly love their parents suffer the brunt of this negative trend. People are repeatedly failing at making love work. People are quickly forgetting the true meaning of love. Loyalty and sacrifice are becoming extinct in many relationships, even as we observe an upsurge in self-absorption.

Gratitude can bring a fresh breath of life into stale relationships.?Gratitude can positively transform our relationships.?A grateful heart is a heart that yearns to serve others. Gratitude makes us more appreciative of people. How true are the words of William James (the Father of American psychology): "The deepest craving of human nature is the need to be appreciated." Gratitude satisfies this crucial need of the human heart and makes our relationships more fulfilling.

In addition to our relationship with people, gratitude also transforms our relationship with God, which is the most important relationship we could ever invest in. Gratitude can deepen our spirituality and draw us closer to our Creator - God.

Challenge #4: Selfishness - The Plague of our Uncertain Times

I was excited to see the cover page of Michelle Obama's new book—The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times. The phrase "The Light We Carry" resonated with me. Among other nuggets of wisdom in this book (I am still exploring . . .), the former first lady paints a vivid picture of the uncertain times we have found ourselves in. A time of intolerance, dangerous divisive rhetoric, a toxic level of political discord, grave insecurity, and rageful violence.

While the former first lady accurately described our times as "Uncertain Times", I prefer to use the phrase "Last days" and for good reasons. About 2000 years ago, a former murderer-turned-apostle of Jesus Christ by the name Saul of Tarsus accurately predicted the realities of our current time. He called our days the "Last days". With great precision, he described the last days as perilous and uncertain times. He said the last days would be characterized by self-love, selfishness, the erosion of godly values, godlessness, depravity, wickedness, and one more thing—Ingratitude. With nuclear blackmail becoming commonplace, many fear a nuclear Armageddon, but I see things differently. Much more than nuclear weapons, we should be more concerned about the human selfishness that pulls the trigger on these weapons of mass destruction.

In these last days,?gratitude is a safeguard against selfishness?and the resulting depravity that goes with it. As an other-focused emotion, gratitude makes us compassionate toward other people. Gratitude makes us act in ways that will bring benefit to others.?Gratitude is a moral fertilizer?that helps us develop good character traits and fosters morality.

There are certainly more challenges our world faces, but I will stay brief by keeping to these four challenges above.

As you can see, gratitude equips you to overcome these significant challenges that plague our world today. More than ever before, we need an attitude of gratitude to rise above these stark challenges. To thrive in these difficult times, a grateful perspective is a necessity.

Thank You for reading. Please feel free to tune in tomorrow for the next article in this gratitude adventure series as we explore FLOURISHING WITH GRATITUDE.

To learn more about gratitude, take a look at Uno Okon's new book Relentless Gratitude. Also, visit?www.relentlessgratitude.org