The Home Page Network

Dr. Nicolle Mayo, Associate Professor of Psychology at Mansfield University, joins Home Page Vice-President Sara Vogt to discuss the benefits of a thankful approach to life’s challenges. Come along as she teaches us how to take those defeating negative thought patterns and turn them into ones of hope!

Each month on Movin’ Together, we encourage all of us to be proactive in using the healthy tools we discuss on this broadcast. This time our tool is thankfulness. Sara shared a frustrating start to her morning with Nicolle when she realized there was no hot water left for her shower. (It has been proven that cool showers are beneficial for us too, but Sara has never really jumped onto that bandwagon!) Nicolle explained that if she could adjust to the situation, it would benefit her mood for the day. If Sara could find a positive aspect in the middle of the problem, then her day would continue to look up. Nicolle stressed the importance of training our thoughts to look for the good in a rough situation. As we do that, our body releases good feeling hormones such as serotonin to help us cope. She also encouraged us that if we chose to think positively, it would become more automatic as we proceeded in life. Instead of feeling depressed, we would feel hopeful.

Well, we all have stressors in life, especially during this season of COVID. When our families gather for the Thanksgiving Holiday, there will be many occasions for us to practice positivity and hospitality—looking for ways to bless and encourage each other could set us on a road of learning new ways to love—being thankful changes the atmosphere!