FROM THE HEAD OF SENIOR SCHOOL
Gratitude
A few years ago I attended a pastoral care conference and a particular presentation which struck a chord with me was presented by Danielle Miller . The theme of the presentation was the importance of committing to cultivating gratitude in our lives , and more importantly in the lives of the young people we care for . A committed effort to focus on gratitude delivers a wide array of positive impacts to those who are grateful for the special things in their lives .
The extract from Danielle Miller ’ s book , Gratitude : a positive new approach to raising thankful kids , cites the work of leading positive Psychologist , Martin Seligman ( 2014 ) highlighting the impact that the ability to express gratitude can have :
“ Martin Seligman … took a group of people who described themselves as seriously depressed and asked them to spend a few moments every day , for 15 days , writing down three good things that happened to them that day . The results were nothing short of amazing … 94 % said their depression had eased , and 92 % said they were happier . What we focus our attention on has an incredible effect on our feelings and actions .”
Miller further explains a number of other factors within a person ’ s life that may be affected by gratitude . These include :
• The ability to form stronger relationships .
• Motivation levels .
• Feelings of protective factors that may be utilised in difficult situations .
Given the wide range of benefits a grateful attitude can create , it is important for us to consider how we can attempt to further cultivate this in ourselves , and importantly be role models and guides for the children in our lives to develop a similar approach .
Upon reflection , being members of our wonderful Guildford Grammar School community and living , working and thriving in the beautiful city of Perth in Australia gives us a multitude of reasons to be thankful . A glance at a newspaper , a section of the nightly TV news or a quick Google search of world events , particularly in the context of 2020 , where COVID-19 illness and deaths , rioting and lockdowns have been part of daily life , provides motivation for us to be very grateful for where we are and what we have .
A committed effort to focus on gratitude delivers a wide array of positive impacts to those who are grateful for the special things in their lives ”
As a powerful gratitude experiment to start 2021 , I would encourage you to have a conversation with your children about ways in which you can both express and reflect on those things in your life you are grateful for . Here are three simple activities you can try with your family to help you focus on being grateful for all the good things in your lives :
1 . Develop a daily gratitude ritual For families this may work at dinnertime or perhaps bedtime with younger children . Have all family members list three things they have been grateful for throughout the day . These may be from experiences that day or overarching features of one ’ s life that create the realisation of thanks .
2 . Surprise sticky notes Give each member of the family five ‘ sticky notes ’ to write messages on . Post them around the house where another member of the family will find them with expressions of gratitude written on the notes .
3 . Seven Day Gratitude Challenge For the vigilant , each day , perhaps at the same time , the entire family can sit down
together and name someone or something they are grateful for , such as :
• Day 1 – a friend .
• Day 2 – member of the extended family .
• Day 3 – something in nature that makes you happy .
• Day 4 – a family holiday or a recent day trip .
• Day 5 – something good that happened to someone else .
• Day 6 – something you have successfully learned how to do .
• Day 7 – someone or something that makes you laugh .
* Adapted from the 21-Day Gratitude Challenge , featured in Miller ’ s , Gratitude : a positive new approach to raising thankful kids .
The real power to be gained in the gratitude space is not just in ‘ feeling grateful ’, but it is when we maintain a regular routine to be overt in discussing , recording and sharing the things we are grateful for .
So what am I grateful for at Guildford Grammar School ? Our beautiful and expansive campus and grounds , our engaging and caring staff , our beautiful Chapel of St Mary and St George , our topclass sporting facilities , the wonderful sense of community , and of course our amazing , talented and engaging students – the list could easily go on !
Mr Brad Evans Head of Senior School
Reference Miller , D . 2015 . Gratitude : a positive new approach to raising thankful kids
14