Hit The Reset Button: Say Thank You

Michael McCullough, a professor of psychology at the University of Miami says that counting your blessings and giving thanks can make you happier.  He further states that “it makes you happier and can change your attitude about life, like an emotional reset button.”

Scientists have also determined that gratitude works to reduce stress.  There are a lot of theories about brain chemistry, hormones, and neurotransmitters.  The bottom line is that it works!  Saying thank you is the way we acknowledge another person’s kindness.  The reset button slows us down, gives us the opportunity to enjoy the thoughtfulness and consideration of others.  It also gives us the opportunity to make someone feel noticed and feel happy.

Thanksgiving is a day for reflection on all of the things that we are thankful for.  Professor McCullough and his colleagues must be right.  Once we get into the Thanksgiving mood, we tend to be happier, nicer, more polite, more forgiving, and more accepting.  This euphoria carries through the entire holiday season.  Makes you wonder if our Ho-Ho-Ho’s are directly related to our Thanksgiving!

There is a focus on Thanksgiving as our day to give thanks, but in reality, we have reasons to be thankful every day.  Gratitude and giving thanks helps us focus on the positive things in our lives and positive thoughts produce positive outcomes.  Even in adversity, we can find ways to be positive and be thankful.  Recently ^Kat wrote a blog about her sister beating cancer.  Instead of focusing on the negative, family and friends rallied together to create a positive environment that helped bring about her sister’s recovery.  I am sure that everyone can relate to a similar story in their lives.  Having friends and family to help us get through the tough times is truly something to be thankful for.

The eastern seaboard along with 6 other countries was devastated by Hurricane Sandy.  This massive storm was the largest Atlantic hurricane on record with a diameter spanning 1,100 miles.  But even in the wake of the storm we saw individuals and communities coming together to help those affected by the storm. 

We Floridians know all to well how it feels to have been in the path of destruction.  We also know how marvelous it is to pitch in and help others, and although we don’t do it for the “thank you”, those that are receiving the assistance need to say thank you—because saying thank you makes them happier, it makes them feel better…it pushes their emotional reset button!

This year let’s focus on Thanksgiving as more than just football, parades, and a great meal.  This year on Thanksgiving, let’s express our gratitude for the kindness shown by friends and family.   Let’s push the reset button as many times as we can and then let’s remember to press it as often as we can throughout the year!  So let me be the first to say "Thank You" to all our members for being a part of the Tropical Financial family - Happy Thanksgiving to all!

^Steve