Expressing appreciation for others, staying close to God and learning from their trials are the ways BYU–Hawaii students said they show their gratitude. They said gratitude is all about staying positive and being mindful of what brings them happiness.
Count your blessings
Alex Mortensen, a sophomore from Utah studying hospitality and tourism management, said gratitude is about having a deep feeling of happiness and a deep understanding of what people are grateful for in their lives. She said during her nightly prayers, she is able to recall the things for which she is grateful.
“At the end of the day, I look back on my blessings and express thanks to my Heavenly Father. Realizing that I have more than I could ever ask for or need brings a sense of humility into my life,” she said.
Alyssa Wilson, a sophomore from Oregon studying intercultural peacebuilding, said gratitude is about having a positive mindset and showing your appreciation for the blessings in your life. She said, “I have heard in my life about how important it is to have gratitude, especially from my mom because she is a very positive person.”
Hyewon Pak, an alumna from California, said gratitude is important when working with others. She explained gratitude is showing appreciation for people around her, and it helps her to feel she belongs with them. She described gratitude as a feeling people can give others when they want to repay them for their hard work.
Pak continued, “I'm grateful for all the blessings I have from Heavenly Father. I couldn’t be happier than right now because, as we say in our Church, count your blessings.”
How to have gratitude
Mortensen shared when struggling with mental health, people can experience a lack of gratitude. She said gratitude won’t make people instantly happier, however, if people work on it and find things they are grateful for, it will bring more joy into their lives.
She suggested people struggling with any issue should try to focus on what they can be grateful for at the time of the trial and then keep building on that gratitude list.
Pak said people who are struggling to feel gratitude should take some time to get fresh air or listen to music. “You won't be able to switch your emotions right away. … Try to change the environment that is supportive and motivating to flip your mindset.”
Wilson said there are times when she has a hard time recognizing what she is grateful for. “If you’re like me and struggle understanding why and how gratitude can help you, just remember that it’s a lot simpler than you think. You’re probably already practicing having a lot of gratitude in your life. You just haven’t labeled it yet.”
Gratitude doesn’t always have to be listing things people are grateful for, she said. “You don’t have to do a whole bunch of extra stuff to foster gratitude if you’re just being mindful of things that are making you happy and adding life to your life.”
Expressing gratitude for the small and simple things
Mortensen said she is grateful for all of the beauty found on the island. She expressed while driving around the island, she feels a strong sense of gratitude for all of God’s creations.
“We live in such a beautiful place, and I’m so thankful for it. I’m one of those kids who cries at every single beach sunset because I feel so much love and gratitude in those moments,” she explained.
Wilson shared she likes to be in nature alone, and it helps her to feel gratitude. She said she enjoys walking around Laie at sunset alone. “When I am alone, I can really think about nature and the sky. I just love the sunsets here and the way the clouds are after it rains. It’s so beautiful how it rains for a little and the sun comes out and a rainbow appears,” she expressed.
Mortensen said gratitude comes from her love for her Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. She said she is grateful for the beauty created by Heavenly Father for us to enjoy.
Heavenly Father is really in the details of our lives, and there’s so much to be grateful for, she said. “Be grateful for the beautiful palm trees, sunshine, rain and the rainbows that follow it. There’s a lot in the world to be grateful for.”
President Dieter F. Utchdorf said in a 2014 April General Conference talk, "It might sound contrary to the wisdom of the world to suggest that one who is burdened with sorrow should give thanks to God. But those who set aside the bottle of bitterness and lift instead the goblet of gratitude can find a purifying drink of healing, peace, and understanding."
He continues, "Could I suggest that we see gratitude as a disposition, a way of life that stands independent of our current situation? In other words, I’m suggesting that instead of being thankful for things, we focus on being thankful in our circumstances—whatever they may be."
He simples says, "We can choose to be grateful, no matter what.
"This type of gratitude transcends whatever is happening around us. It surpasses disappointment, discouragement, and despair. It blooms just as beautifully in the icy landscape of winter as it does in the pleasant warmth of summer."
Pak said coronavirus pandemic greatly affected her ability to feel gratitude. Although people have lost their jobs and are struggling, Pak said she is grateful to still have a job.
Wilson said she was serving a mission in Sweden when the COVID-19 pandemic began. She explained there was not much to do during their times inside except reflect on her thoughts and what she was grateful for.
She said, “I really appreciated walking around looking at the flowers and the green that was coming alive and the birds that were coming around. … They make the world a better place. … Those really became the basis of my happiness during that time and is what really got me through that.”
Wilson said the pandemic helped her learn more about how to show gratitude to her family once she returned home from her mission. She said that showing gratitude to those around us is different for each person.
She has learned to express her gratitude to others by understanding how they can feel loved and appreciated. Wilson said, “I try to show appreciation for people in my life by giving them what is important to them, because every person has a different way of receiving love and admiration.”