Hello, friends! I’m the founder of the Taking Shape Star Leadership program, and if there’s one thing I believe deeply, it’s that the world needs a generation of resilient, positive, and mindful leaders. Over the years, I’ve seen firsthand the power of simple, positive habits in shaping young minds. Among all the habits I’ve seen make a difference, gratitude has an especially profound impact.
You might be thinking, “Why gratitude? Why is this habit so essential?” Let me tell you why this matters not just in the short term, but for life. Gratitude transforms us. It changes our perspective, our relationships, and our ability to bounce back from hard times. In the Star Leadership program, I’ve seen young people’s lives change when they start practicing gratitude. The impact isn’t just about feeling good in the moment—it sets them up for long-term success, happiness, and strength.
I want to share some thoughts on why we, as mentors, educators, and parents, should prioritize gratitude habits for the young people in our lives. With gratitude as their foundation, they’ll have the tools they need to shine.
Why Gratitude? Why Now?
Growing up, my own experience with gratitude was shaped by the advice of wise adults around me who would often say, “Count your blessings.” But honestly, when I was younger, “counting my blessings” wasn’t always easy. My mind was too busy comparing what I had with what others had, and I often let those comparisons get the best of me. I remember driving around in my old blue Volkswagen station wagon while my best friend zipped by in her shiny black Trans Am with T-tops, feeling anything but “grateful” in those moments.
Now, years later, I understand what the adults in my life were trying to teach me. Gratitude wasn’t just about saying “thank you” or pretending I didn’t feel envious; it was about shifting my focus, learning to see the good in my life no matter what. As I grew, I realized that gratitude is like a lens that can turn challenges into learning moments, hardships into strengths. And I want to help today’s youth see that too—without having to wait as long as I did to understand it!
The Science Behind Gratitude: Why It Works
Gratitude doesn’t just feel good; it’s scientifically proven to be good for us. In the Star Leadership program, we talk about the power of gratitude because it genuinely changes lives. Recent research from places like the Greater Good Science Center shows that gratitude can increase happiness by up to 25%! For young people, this is especially powerful because practicing gratitude early in life raises their “happiness set-point”—the level of happiness they naturally come back to, no matter what life throws their way. Imagine giving that to every young person: a higher baseline for happiness!
Here are a few more insights from recent studies that are worth taking notes on:
Living Longer and Healthier: Research shows that people who cultivate gratitude and other positive outlooks tend to live up to 10 years longer than those who focus on the negatives. Gratitude literally makes our hearts healthier—grateful people have a 77% lower risk of heart disease. For youth, this means that practicing gratitude now will help them build a foundation to live a longer and happier life!
Better Mental Health and Resilience: Kids who make gratitude a habit report lower stress and anxiety and have an easier time coping with challenges. I’ve seen this time and again in our program: youth who actively practice gratitude bounce back quicker from setbacks.
Enhanced Academic and Personal Success: Gratitude improves focus and motivation, two things that directly impact success in school and beyond. Plus, grateful young people tend to form stronger, healthier relationships, which support them through tough times.
Making Gratitude a Habit: Tips for Parents, Educators, and Youth Leaders
So, how do we get our young people started on a journey of gratitude? Here are three simple, powerful practices I recommend to parents, educators, and anyone mentoring youth.
Gratitude Journaling: A Powerful Start and End to Each Day
One of the best ways to make gratitude a habit is through journaling. Encourage your child or student to start a gratitude journal and commit to writing down three things they’re grateful for every day. This simple habit helps them take a step back and appreciate the small, often overlooked blessings in their lives.
How to Make It Work:
Encourage them to be specific. Instead of saying, “I’m grateful for my friends,” they might say, “I’m grateful that my friend Sarah saved me a seat at lunch today.”
Choose a consistent time each day—morning or night. Having a set time helps them build the habit, and they can end their day or start it with a positive mindset.
Every month, have them look back over their entries. It’s amazing to see the journey of gratitude over time; they’ll feel proud of how much good they’ve noticed in their lives.
What I’ve Seen: Gratitude journaling has helped so many of our Star Leadership participants become more reflective and optimistic. It’s a shift in awareness from what’s missing to what’s already there.
Complaining Fast: Turning Negativity into Positivity
Complaints come naturally, but what if we could rewire that tendency in our young people? I’ve seen incredible transformations through a simple practice we call the “Complaining Fast.” The idea is to catch yourself when you’re about to complain and switch it up with a gratitude statement instead.
How to Do It:
Try a one-week challenge with your youth. Have them commit to replacing complaints with gratitude for just one week. For instance, if they’re about to say, “I hate math,” encourage them to reframe it as, “I’m grateful for the chance to learn something new, even if it’s tough.”
Once they complete a week, challenge them to keep going! Research tells us it takes around 60 days to form a new habit, so keeping this up for two months can turn gratitude into an automatic response.
Another proactive approach I have been using with my younger leaders is acknowledging when they say "Thank You." I respond to them with "Thank you for saying Thank You" which positively reinforces the habit.
Why It Works: This practice rewires the brain to search for positives even in tough situations. Over time, I’ve seen that it helps young people become more resilient, adaptable, and happier.
Small Acts of Kindness: Spreading Gratitude to Others
One of my favorite ways to encourage gratitude is through small acts of kindness. When youth do something kind, they not only make someone else’s day, but they feel a sense of fulfillment that strengthens their own gratitude.
How to Make It a Habit:
Each morning, have them think of one person they could reach out to that day. It might be a quick “thinking of you” text to a friend, a compliment to a classmate, or helping a sibling with a task.
Encourage them to be intentional. Sometimes we get so busy that even the simplest acts slip through the cracks, but setting a daily intention ensures it happens.
Why It Matters: By consistently reaching out to others, young people strengthen their relationships and experience the joy of making a difference. Over time, this practice leads to a lasting sense of gratitude for the people in their lives.
Gratitude is a choice, but it’s not always an easy one. For many young people, the world can feel challenging, overwhelming, and full of obstacles. But when they understand "why" gratitude matters—that it’s a path to a longer, healthier, and more fulfilling life—they’re more likely to embrace it wholeheartedly. Also being a guide by their side to create awareness around connecting the dots in their gratitude.
In the Star Leadership program, we talk a lot about understanding your “why.” For gratitude, the “why” is powerful: happier, healthier, and more resilient lives. Gratitude gives young people the tools to navigate challenges and approach life with an open heart. And isn’t that what we all want for our kids? To see them not only survive but truly thrive?
Let’s Build a Brighter Future Together
As the founder of Taking Shape Star Leadership, I’ve witnessed the incredible impact that gratitude can have on young lives. I encourage you—whether you’re a parent, educator, or mentor—to join me in helping the next generation grow up with gratitude at the heart of their journey. Together, we can nurture a generation of young people who see the world with appreciation, who approach challenges with optimism, and who live with open hearts and resilient attitudes.
Let’s make gratitude a foundation for the future!
To find out more about the Star Leadership program visit us at starleadership.care.
Comments