You may have heard about gratitude challenges that frequently take place on social media in November, such as sharing something you are grateful for each day to celebrate Thanksgiving all month long. When I worked with students, I encouraged them to start a gratitude journal as part of the social-emotional learning class I taught. Whatever the mode, focusing on what we have can keep us grounded in the present rather than lamenting about the past or worrying about the future.

The Michigan eLibrary (MeL) has eResources that can support the journey to gratitude and help further an understanding of how it can impact our lives. Academic Search Complete has peer-reviewed journals that offer research about the impact of gratitude on the human condition including:

• The Effect of Gratitude on Well-Being: Should We Prioritize Positivity or Meaning? from Journal of Happiness Studies
• Inspiration, Meaning in Life and Gratitude as Predictors of Subjective Well-Being in the Case of a Group of Students from Journal of Educational Sciences & Psychology
• Thanks for Being, Loving, and Believing from Philosophical Studies

Along with peer-reviewed journal articles, MasterFILE Complete from MeL offers popular consumer health and business magazines which include articles about gratitude in our personal and professional lives such as:

• An Attitude of Gratitude Delivers Physical and Mental Benefits from Mind, Mood & Memory
• Gratitude Isn’t Just for the Holidays from the Grand Rapids Business Journal
• Show Gratitude from HR Magazine

If you’re not sure where to start, there are seven simple ideas in Why You Should Practice Gratitude on More Than Just Turkey Day in Woman’s Day. Once you start you may find many ways to use the eResources from MeL to integrate gratitude as a regular practice in your life.

If you have any MeL eResources questions or issues, contact melerhelp@mcls.org for help.

Brought to you by Laura Warren-Gross from the MeL Team. 

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MeL eResources are available to Michigan residents or for Michigan library or school access only. 

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Laura Warren-Gross

MeL Engagement Specialist for Public Libraries

Midwest Collaborative for Library Services (MCLS)

1407 Rensen St, Suite 1, Lansing, MI 48910

(517) 481-2022