This time of year is great for practicing gratitude. Thanksgiving focuses on identifying the things we’re thankful for, and the December holidays of Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa inspire us to focus on community, culture and appreciation for the world around us. This season helps us to slow down, reflect on the past year and look to the future. It’s a great time to practice gratefulness.
I recently read an article about the concept of a “reverse bucket list.” We all know that a bucket list is a list of things we aspire to accomplish before we “kick the bucket.” Well, the reverse of that is to make a list of things we’ve already accomplished! By only focusing on what you someday hope to do, it’s easy to become overwhelmed or discouraged in the moments you’re not making progress toward those goals. Conversely, practicing the art of listing accomplishments that make you proud will actually boost your self-esteem and your outlook on accomplishing future goals.
It’s easy to fall into the abyss of never-ending to-do lists, transferring today’s unfinished activities to tomorrow (and the next day, and the next day). Eventually, you could get so overwhelmed that you’re tempted to give up altogether. Don’t fall into this trap! If you live in the “someday” mindset too often, you’ll lose sight of all the amazing things you’re already doing.
Be intentional about looking at what you did finish, as well as the real impact those accomplishments have had on your everyday life. Practice doing that. The funny thing is, when you start looking for things to celebrate, you get to a point where that’s nearly all you see. Beware of this phenomenon, as your friends might start to get annoyed by your perpetual positivity! But it can also be infectious, inspiring others to jump on the gratitude train along with you.
So how does all of this relate to you, the college student? What direct educational benefits can you gain from this practice?
Well, the obvious answer is that each passing grade and aced exam should be celebrated, big or small. This will, of course, improve your self-confidence, but there’s more! A quick Internet search returns countless articles referencing studies on the positive effects of gratitude on common college issues, such as stress, anxiety, depression and lack of motivation. Nearly every article also boasts of associated improvements to physical and mental health. These are all common issues college students face at one time or another.
The simple act of writing down each victory has boundless potential for self-improvement. You finally got someone to smile back at you on the way to class? Celebrate it! The math class you dreaded taking is finally behind you? Celebrate it! You didn’t feel like vomiting during speech class for the first time all semester? Celebrate it!
Take a few moments to look back at the past year. What are you truly proud of accomplishing? Begin your “reverse bucket list” today, and see how it changes your perspective.
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