As a certified therapist, I have spent a good amount of time helping people discover tools that will help them overcome difficult challenges in their lives.

In both my professional practice and my coaching, there are two powerful tools I use more than anything else—forgiveness and gratitude.

Hands down, if people used these two tools, they would have the ability to overcome most of the challenges life throws at them.

There’s so much I could say about forgiveness. To be honest, I’m actually writing a book on it that will be out next year.

But since this is the season of thanksgiving, I want to focus on the healing power of gratitude.

Gratitude is more than just being thankful. There are actually several scientifically proven benefits that come from practicing gratitude on a regular basis.

Here are just a few:

  1. Gratitude can improve your physical health. It has been proven that people who express gratitude daily experience fewer body aches and pains.
  2. Gratitude increases happiness and significantly reduces depression.
  3. Grateful people are better able to deal with life’s challenges.
  4. Gratitude can help build stronger relationships.
  5. Grateful people even have a better night’s sleep!

Overall, gratitude fosters resilience.

In my therapy and coaching sessions, I use gratitude to help restore light to those who have suffered trauma or pain.

Gratitude has a way of pulling people out of their misery and giving them something positive to keep their focus.

If you are struggling with difficult challenges in life, I encourage you to express gratitude daily. Maybe even start keeping a gratitude journal.

Gratitude will allow you to see the good in the world and remain focused on it.

Gratitude certainly doesn’t take the challenge away, but it gives you the ability to cope with the challenge and find healthy ways to move through it by fostering a more positive perspective.

Gratitude is more than a feeling—it’s an action.

When you actively express gratitude for the good things in life, you will live a happier and healthier life.