With the thanksgiving season approaching us, we are in the spirit of gratitude. A whole day is taken to celebrate our blessings and appreciate what we have. However, with Black Friday and Christmas following, our short-lived gratitude is lost in the maze of materialism.

Gratitude shouldn’t be reserved to just one day. However, it is easy to forget how lucky we are and how much we have without a holiday to remind us. We naturally have a tendency to feel sorry for ourselves, or base our happiness off of what other people have that we don’t. While it’s common, it is an easy fix.

Positivity is centered around forgetting the past and embracing the present. Meditation, yoga and volunteer work are just three of the many activities we can do to feel responsible and in control of your life. Positivity is sharing the blessings we are given with those who don’t have them. It is just as easy to keep a positive frame of mind as it is to feel inadequate or compare ourselves to others.

It is a yoga tradition and belief that the mind and body are connected. It’s obvious that negativity can make you feel bad, but studies have shown that negative thinking can also lead to physical and psychological health problems. Whereas negativity can cause depression as well as weakened systems of the body, positivity is medically linked to stress relief and boosted immunity.

So, how is positivity linked to gratitude? General understanding and appreciation of what we have makes us happier. The benefits of gratitude are endless. In a 2003 study titled “Counting Blessings Versus Burdens,” participants that kept a gratitude journal reported 16% fewer physical symptoms, 10% less physical pain, and 25% increased sleep quality. Psychologists have determined that the emotions of gratitude induce the relaxation response and lower depressive symptoms.

In an image-obsessed and commercial society, it is our learnt behavior to self-criticize, dwell on the past, and forget the blessings we have each day. However, this behavior can be changed. Positive thought is a matter of choice and remembrance of what we truly have. Though we grow accustomed to having running water, food, shelter, electricity and education, it does not mean these things aren’t blessings. We are lucky to wake up each day with our health. Embrace your blessings- not only during the season of Thanksgiving, but year-round.