Grow Your Resilience With Gratitude

Even before COVID upended “normal” life, we’ve seen the need for mental health support steadily increase over recent years. The end of the pandemic likely won’t change this trend — which is why it’s important to maintain healthy mental practices and take advantage of the support available to you. Seeking emotional support is a hallmark of a healthy leader and will help ensure you are able to continue your important work in the community.

One way to lower stress levels and improve your mood is to practice gratitude. According to our partner Omada Health, your brain tends to focus on the negative things surrounding you as a protective mechanism. But if you try to focus instead on what’s going well and what you’re grateful for, your mental and emotional health can really benefit. Studies show that being grateful can help you:

Feel more optimistic
Increase your self-esteem
Reduce stress and anxiety

To help build your resilience during this Mental Health Awareness Month, consider trying this small step from Omada.

Small Step: Focus on Gratitude

Make it a habit:
Note three things you’re grateful for during the day. Encourage your friends or family members to do the same!

Let others know you appreciate them:
An easy way to do this? Just practice saying aloud the compliments that you’re already thinking about others.

Stick with it:
If giving thanks feels cheesy or contrived at first, give it some time. Gratitude is a skill that requires practice.

Sources:

Omada Health – Stress Awareness Flyer

Motivated to do more?

An additional step anyone can try:

Follow Portico on Facebook, for mental health resources we’ll highlight throughout the month.

If you have ELCA-Primary health benefits with Portico:

Watch Learn to Live’s on-demand webinar on ways to strengthen your gratitude muscle and retrain your brain with practical ideas for every day.
Check out the Being courses like Spiritual Recharge: Grateful and Grounded with Diana Butler Bass, Resiliency with Jenny Evans, and Beating Burnout with ELCA pastors and church leaders.
Call the Employee Assistance Program at 800.432.5155 or use the online scheduler to connect with an EAP counselor.
See if you’re eligible for Omada, a program designed to help you lose weight, gain energy, and improve your overall health.
Your mental health benefit helps you pay for medically necessary, eligible mental health care expenses after you’ve met your deductible.

If you have ELCA Medicare-Primary health benefits with Portico:

Your Humana Medicare Advantage benefits cover outpatient group and individual therapy visits just like medical outpatient visits.
Social isolation impacts 43% of older adults, according to a study by Humana, which is one of the reasons why they partnered with the Institute on Aging to offer members a dedicated support line if they’re feeling lonely, depressed or socially isolated, or just need companionship and emotional support. Call to connect with a trained professional who can offer a caring ear and host a friendly conversation.
Download Humana’s guide on overcoming loneliness together for information to help you feel more connected.

This information should not be considered or used as a substitute for professional health care advice. By providing this information, Portico Benefit Services is not providing any medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Each individual is responsible for his or her own health and medical treatment decisions. You should talk with your doctor to determine the lifestyle changes and health care treatment options appropriate for you.