Shine a Light on Gratitude: Finding Your Favorite Tune

We're back to talking about something incredibly powerful for boosting our well-being: gratitude. It might sound simple, but actively appreciating the good things in our lives can have a profound impact on our mood, resilience, and overall happiness.

As you know, we are going to do this with a little inspiration from the legendary Rolling Stones, this week’s featured artist. Their iconic song "Shine A Light" beautifully captures the essence of hope and positivity, and within its lyrics, we find a wonderful sentiment that perfectly mirrors the practice of gratitude: "May the good Lord, shine a light on you. Make every song you sing, your favorite tune."

Think about that for a moment. "Shine a light on you" can be interpreted as recognizing and acknowledging the good things that are already present in your life. It's about focusing on the positive aspects, even amidst challenges. And "make every song you sing, your favorite tune" speaks to the idea of finding joy and appreciation in the everyday moments, turning even the mundane into something meaningful.

So, how can we practically incorporate this "Shine A Light" philosophy into our lives to cultivate gratitude? Here are a few ideas, drawing inspiration from the spirit of the song:

1. Shine a Light on the Little Things: Just like the song's gentle melody can brighten a mood, gratitude often starts with noticing the small, everyday blessings. Don't wait for grand gestures.

• Example: Take a moment to appreciate the warmth of your morning coffee, the feeling of the sun on your skin, or a genuine smile from a stranger.

• Rationale: Our brains are often wired to focus on problems and threats. Consciously shifting our attention to positive small moments helps rewire this negativity bias and allows us to experience more frequent positive emotions.

  
  

2. Make Every Connection Your Favorite Tune: Relationships are a cornerstone of well-being. Expressing gratitude for the people in your life strengthens those bonds and amplifies the positive energy.

• Example: Send a text message to a friend letting them know you appreciate their support. Write a thank-you note to a family member about something they did. Verbally express your gratitude to a colleague for their help.

• Rationale: Gratitude fosters a sense of connection and belonging. When we express appreciation, it reinforces positive interactions and makes others feel valued, creating a virtuous cycle of positivity.

3. Shine a Light on Your Strengths and Abilities: Sometimes, we forget to be grateful for our own capabilities. Acknowledging what we can do and how far we've come can be incredibly empowering.

• Example: Reflect on a skill you've developed or a challenge you've overcome. Acknowledge your resilience and the effort you put in.

• Rationale: Self-compassion and recognizing our own strengths build self-esteem and confidence. Gratitude for our abilities allows us to approach challenges with a more positive and resourceful mindset.

  
  

4. Make Every Experience a Potential Favorite Tune: Even difficult experiences can offer opportunities for growth and gratitude. It's not about being grateful for the hardship, but perhaps for the lessons learned, the resilience gained, or the support received during that time.

• Example: If you face a setback at work, you might be grateful for the opportunity to learn from your mistakes or for your supportive colleagues who helped you through it.

• Rationale: Finding silver linings in challenging situations helps us develop resilience and a more optimistic outlook. It shifts the focus from what was lost to what was gained or learned.

  
  

5. Shine a Light Through Journaling: Putting your gratitude into words can make it more tangible and impactful.

• Example: Keep a gratitude journal and write down 3-5 things you are grateful for each day. Be specific! Instead of "I'm grateful for my friends," try "I'm grateful for my wife's listening ear when I was stressed yesterday."

• Rationale: Regularly reflecting on and writing down what we're grateful for reinforces these positive thoughts and makes us more attuned to noticing good things in the future.

  
  

Finally, I must address the elephant in the room. Mick Jagger’s call out to the good Lord is a lesson we all could learn from. Church membership is currently at 45%. That’s down 73% from 1937, when 73% of this country had a religious affiliation. Most of the drop in membership has occurred in the last 25 years. Whatever your feelings are regarding the church, religion has provided us with a moral compass to live our lives by for centuries. It remains one of the places where gratitude flows, as we come to understand how small we are in the grander scheme. That knowledge allows us to be grateful for the position and the place in which we sit. It’s a powerful perspective you gain, once that light shines on you.

The Rolling Stones' have created enduring music that will be enjoyed for generations. In the same way, the practice of gratitude is something that can enrich your life in a lasting way. By consciously choosing to "shine a light" on the good and striving to "make every song we sing, our favorite tune," we can cultivate a deeper sense of joy, build up our resilience, and improve our overall well-being. So, take a moment today to reflect on what you’re grateful for, and let that positive light shine!

Challenge: Each day this week, write down three things that you are grateful for. If you find yourself in a slump, or having negative thoughts, shift your mindset in this way and see if your emotions aren’t immediately reframed. Share your success stories.

Disclaimer: While music can be a powerful tool for emotional well being, the information in this blog should not be a substitute for professional advice or therapy. The information provided in this blog post is intended for general knowledge and informational purposes only, and does not constitute medical or professional advice.  I am not a trained mental health expert, and the content shared here should not be considered a substitute for consultation with a qualified mental health professional. If you are in immediate danger or experiencing a mental health emergency, please do not hesitate to call 911 or your local emergency services. You can also contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or text HOME to 741741 to reach the Crisis Text Line