Gratitude in the Midst of a Pandemic

Lighthouse Conversations
Written By Matt Juzenas, Director of Strategic Operations

Lighthouse meets every other Wednesday evening from 8:30-9:30 pm (CST). If you haven’t joined us before, we invite you to come and sit awhile with this beautiful group of parents. As a community, we gather to celebrate the highs and support each other through the challenges. This is a conversation with other parents who understand what you are experiencing. Grab your favorite beverage join us. This is a program for parents with students attending Islands of Brilliance programming. Register here.

Wow! We are at the end of April, and talk about getting those April showers in at the end! I am certainly looking forward to the beautiful weather we are supposed to have this weekend! Last night was another wonderful conversation, I am so grateful for the time that we are able to share together each week.

Last night we started the evening by sharing two words that describe how we were feeling at the moment. And the answers really gave a snapshot of how we might be finding ourselves at a turning point in our collective emotional journey.

The past few weeks we’ve talked about how tired we were all feeling, how stressed we feel about the uncertainty of the months to come, and how we worry about our kids and how they are navigating this situation. And those valid words certainly came up again: frustrated, stressed, frayed, tired, worried.

But as we have moved from the “crisis management” mode of the first month of the pandemic, into the exhaustion and recovery mode of keeping it all going over the past weeks…some new words came up last night: relaxed, comforted, rested, grateful, blessed, relieved, hopeful.

I know in the past week, even in the past 24 hours, I have certainly felt all of the emotions listed above! We can feel like we’re on an emotional rollercoaster, and like we said last week…those around us can be on rollercoasters of their own – our ups and downs might not be in sync with everyone else’s in our households.

One of the words that came up multiple times was grateful. Gratitude is a big word for us at Islands of Brilliance. Mark ends each workshop season by expressing gratitude to our families, volunteers, and community. We end Colors and Chords with a gratitude toast, we even hold the event around the Thanksgiving season!

Gratitude is a powerful force, especially when we intentionally engage with it. A mindfulness practice of gratitude can not only change your outlook, it can change your mental and physical health! From the Harvard Medical School “In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.”

Expressing gratitude gives your brain a hit of dopamine which makes your brain saying, “Oh, do that again” which means the more you are grateful for…the more you will find to be grateful for!

One of the key components for my own gratitude practice is the 5-Minute Journal. It is a simple and quick formula that is incredibly powerful. You start each day with gratitude, intention, and affirmation. Each evening you end the day with positivity and reflection. There is an app, you can purchase a beautifully made journal…but I just write it down in my own notebook each day, it’s that simple. I’ve also attached a PDF you can print and use.

Here’s how it works:

  • Morning

    • List three things you’re grateful for (try not to repeat previous days!)

    • List three things that would make the day great

    • One affirmation

  • Evening

    • List three things that were amazing today

    • One way you could have made today better

Consider starting your own gratitude practice and see how it changes your day! This could be a really powerful activity to work into the family’s daily routine. Maybe bring it to the dinner table and each of you share what you are grateful for each day.

I am grateful for you, for your families, and for our health!

Peace and Love,
Matt and all of us at Islands of Brilliance

Banner Image by Jobert Aquino Aquino from Pixabay

Matt Juzenas, Director of Strategic Operations

With a background in both special education and graphic design, Matt blends these two disciplines creating unique, engaging learning opportunities for the participants at Islands of Brilliance. In his corporate marketing and agency days, Matt was a strategic and empowering Creative Director. Guiding with compassion and kindness, he formed and led high performing teams who brought their best selves to work. As an educator, Matt takes a similarly holistic approach to each of his students.

With a passion for learning and an ongoing commitment to self-improvement, Matt is an avid reader and explorer of process. An advocate for mental health awareness, he believes that by sharing our stories we find common ground and connection, creating communities of support and understanding. He enjoys spending time playing board games, crocheting, and cooking delicious meals for family and friends.

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Emotions in the Pandemmic