Practicing gratitude for Well-being

Well-Being Exercise at the Airport

I’m traveling again, and it seems the airport has become my favorite place to write this summer. As I sit and wait to board my flight, I find myself reflecting on the past couple of weeks—teaching, recording YouTube videos, coaching, parenting, making last-minute arrangements for this trip, organizing things for the upcoming school year, exchanging emails, and conducting interviews with potential clients. We arrived early at the airport to avoid the stress of long security lines, and now I can pause and find a moment of gratitude.

Three things I am grateful for

There are many things I’m grateful for, but perhaps the most meaningful is a text exchange I had yesterday with the parent of one of my students. The student has a significant health condition, and the parent contacted me to cancel a lesson on short notice because the student wasn’t feeling well. In the message, the parent shared how grateful they were for the lessons, saying it’s the only thing their child currently enjoys. I was deeply touched. How blessed I am to bring joy to people through my work. The lines of Emily Dickinson came to mind: “If I can stop one heart from breaking…”

There are many other things I’m grateful for, but I’m sharing this story because it connects to the topic of well-being—a subject dear to my heart, as many of you know. I’m currently reading Flourish by Martin Seligman. In it, Seligman—an esteemed psychologist and the father of Positive Psychology—presents a new model of well-being based on five elements: Positive Emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Achievement (PERMA). Positive, supportive, and meaningful connections with others are crucial to well-being. Both people benefit from the relationship. “Meaning” is defined as serving something greater than oneself. It’s not necessarily an objective state, as our sense of meaning can evolve over time. Volunteering or being of service can boost our sense of purpose, spark positive emotions, foster meaningful relationships, and connect us with a community of like-minded people—all of which enhance well-being and life satisfaction. Another thing I’m truly grateful for is the ability to take a family vacation for two weeks. For many years, that wasn’t possible for me as a self-employed music teacher. Restructuring my business to allow time off—to travel, explore new places, and spend quality time with my teenage sons—feels like a true blessing. I know that when I return to my students and coaching clients, I’ll feel more inspired, open-minded, and creative. I’ll also miss them, which will bring even more value to our work together. The third thing I’m grateful for is my engagement in teaching. Seligman defines engagement as a state of “flow”—being fully immersed in what you’re doing. My students know that I often lose track of time while teaching. Sometimes they have to knock on the studio door to remind me! While I also love coaching, that process is different: I stay mindful of time to ensure every session has a meaningful close, honoring each client’s unique journey. If you’ve read this far, you’ve probably realized: this post is my gratitude exercise. Seligman recommends writing down three things you’re grateful for each day. According to his research, this and other simple practices (which I’ll share in upcoming posts) can significantly boost well-being and life satisfaction. To learn more, visit: www.authentichappiness.org