Gratitude — the middah, or Jewish value, of hakarat hatov — is the feeling of thankfulness or appreciation. Focusing on what we have rather than what we don’t have helps enrich ourselves and our mental well-being. In Jewish tradition, we say:
Who is rich? Those who rejoice in what they have.
Gratitude can play a large role in healing, both physically and mentally. It is a form of self-care that helps us build resilience and strengthen our mental health. For those living with depression or other mental illnesses, gratitude can be even more important — especially right now, when we might not be able to spend time with our loved ones during the holidays. But that feeling of being grateful is a muscle we need to exercise — like any other muscle. Practicing gratitude regularly is essential to feeling grateful more generally.
