Having a glass-half-full mindset contributes to overcoming trials and finding joy, says BYUH students
Shifting perspectives, strengthening faith and deepening connections, three BYU–Hawaii students said gratitude is more than saying “thank you.” Vaughn Platon, a junior majoring in psychology from the Philippines, explained, “Gratitude is a gift from God. It changes our attitude and behavior, [and] makes us feel joyful even in times of hardship and trial.”
Through gratitude, Chino Ikawa, a sophomore from Japan majoring in business management, said she has been able to see the tender mercies of the Lord and has developed an eternal perspective. “When I try to focus on blessings and gratitude, it helps me to feel happy and brings me joy because I recognize that what I’m going through is not just by accident, it’s a form of love from God,” she said.
Looking through a new lens
Comparing gratitude to a glass of water, Ikawa said, depending on how a person looks at it, they can say the glass is half-full or half-empty. “[They] have the same thing, but [they’re] very different. When we focus on gratitude and what we already have, we find so much joy,” she explained.
Selah Shadra Dagdag, a sophomore from the Philippines majoring in social work, said focusing on the half-full glasses in her life led to a major transformation. “There's a big difference [between] old Selah and today's Selah,” she explained, “Before, I was just thinking, ‘I can do this alone. I don't need help from anyone. [With] my own power, I can do this alone.’ So it was kind of heavy [and] very stressful — all the weight was on my shoulders.” However, when she altered her perspective, Dagdag said she was able to see all of the people around her who cared about her and wanted to help. “Now everything is so light. It’s so easy to do all things. I feel that I can do everything with the help of the Lord and the people around me,” she shared.
Recognizing the little things, Ikawa explained, has helped her shift her mindset during difficult times. During one particularly hard week, she said she received a prompting to write down the things she was grateful for. “I made a list, and I realized I took so many things for granted. For example, I live every day; I’m healthy, I can see, I can feel joy and love … I can eat, I can taste,” she shared. With all the challenges she was facing, Ikawa said she was stuck focusing on negativity. By listing down the things she was grateful for, she said she was able to change her focus from the things she didn’t have to all the things Heavenly Father had blessed her with.
As we look outward and look for those who are in need … we feel a sense of fulfillment and happiness because that is where true joy lies.
During his time serving in the Australia Adelaide Mission, Platon said gratitude is what kept him going. “I was struggling with the feeling that my efforts were wasted because there were very few people who wanted to listen to us,” he said. “I felt hopeless, but there was a sudden thought and feeling of gratitude that I had regarding the gospel.” The reason he knew about the gospel and decided to serve a mission was because of the perseverance of the missionaries who taught his grandmother the gospel, he explained. Because of the missionaries’ influence, Platon said he and his family were able to experience joy and happiness. “I felt immense gratitude to those missionaries, and it motivated me to do my best to share the joy that I felt with others,” he shared.
Paying it forward
With so much to be grateful for, Dagdag and Platon said they show their thanks by paying it forward. Platon explained, “As we look outward and look for those who are in need … we feel a sense of fulfillment and happiness because that is where true joy lies.” Additionally, Dagdag shared, service is a way to show appreciation for the blessings Heavenly Father gives His children. When facing challenging times, she said Heavenly Father sent her angels. “I realized that this is the way I could pay back Heavenly Father for all the things He gave me — serving His children.”
Practicing gratitude, Ikawa shared, is also a way to grow closer to the Savior. “Gratitude is the foundation of so many Christlike attributes, like humility, charity [and] patience,” she said. “By being grateful for everything, I felt that I was becoming more like Christ, and that has strengthened my testimony as well.” One way Ikawa has strived to practice Christlike gratitude is by expressing it verbally, she said. Doing so while being a trainer in the Australia Brisbane Mission helped her not only to grow closer to her companions, but also to the Savior. “[It] helped me to feel so much love from my companions, and our relationship and companionship got stronger in love and in Christ,” she shared.
Showing appreciation and expressing gratitude can have life-changing impacts, Dagdag shared. “Gratitude has helped me to move forward in life with hope and unwavering optimism. Even though sometimes life is really challenging and tough, it helps you to move forward, trusting Heavenly Father that there will be better days ahead,” she said.
Gratitude is the foundation of so many Christlike attributes, like humility, charity [and] patience.