As the season of Thanksgiving and the holidays draw closer, it’s the perfect time to ask:
Do you have a regular gratitude practice?
The upcoming holidays can bring on anxiety, stress, and even depression.
For those feeling a little lost or overwhelmed, it’s been proven that the simple act of being grateful can actually lift spirits.
With gratitude, people acknowledge what’s good in their lives, and recognize that the source of that positivity comes from a place larger than themselves, nature, other people, or a universal power.
Cultivating an attitude of gratitude can help us shift our focus from what’s not going so well in our lives, to the things that are.
Since what you focus on expands – just recognizing what’s good in our life, can bring about more good in your life.
Here’s a short list of why you’ll want to add this simple, but powerful success principle into your regular daily routine:
- Positively affects your mental health
- Boosts our natural immunity to illness and disease
- Lowers your blood pressure, stress levels, and feelings of anxiety
- Reduces physical aches and pains
- Reduces feelings of anger and aggression
- Enhances empathy
- Increases self-esteem and confidence
- Improves sleep quality
- Improves ability to focus
- Assists in overcoming trauma and setbacks
- Improves relationships – appreciative people cultivate deeper relationships
Each of us is unique. We feel thankfulness and express gratitude differently. Here are just a few ways you can recognize the blessings in your life:
- Be grateful for the people in your life - those who've affected you positively, now and in your childhood
- Recognize things you have to be thankful for right now - your health, your mobility, your vision, there are so many things you've got going on for you that are positive
- Give thanks for your past experiences - even the challenges you've come through - they've contributed to who you are today.
If you don’t yet have a gratitude practice, here are some suggestions to help you implement this powerful practice in your life:
Notice The Good Things In Your Life
Keep a Gratitude Journal
Express Gratitude
Take gratitude to a deeper level and radiate thankfulness with your words, good manners, and courtesy.
Say 'Thank You' and show heartfelt appreciation to others when they say or do something kind for you.
Write a heartfelt 'Thank You' note, letter, or an e-mail to people who've positively affected your life. Send it, deliver it, or read it to that person.
It's especially effective when you express specifically what you're thankful for and why it means something special to you.
You can show your appreciation to someone who's done something nice for you by telling them exactly what you're grateful for and why it means something special to you. When you express exactly what their gesture means to you, it'll create a deeper connection with them as well.
Create a practice by writing one of these messages once a month.
- It could be a teacher or a coach who's inspired you along the way
- It could be a childhood friend
- It could be a neighbour who extended kindness that you missed expressing gratitude for long ago
- It could even be a letter to a parent, grandparent, sibling or an adult child of yours if you feel some reconciliation is overdue.
You could also simply thank someone mentally if you don't have time to write a letter to that person or if they've passed away or moved out of your life.
You could also write them a letter in your journal. Just the act of writing it will be therapeutic for your soul.
Your gratitude practice doesn't have to be complicated to be powerful.
It may feel unnatural or uncomfortable at first, but it will become easier when you make it a practice. There is plenty of research indicating that gratitude is associated with greater happiness and feelings of overall wellness.
Practicing gratitude regularly will help you focus on all that you have rather than what you may be lacking. In doing so, you'll feel more positive emotions, recognize good experiences, support your mental health and wellness and build stronger relationships too - all contributing to your feelings of joy and satisfaction in your life.
Say this out loud: No matter how bad it is, or how bad it gets, there's always something to be thankful for.
- Your faith
- Your health
- Your family and friends who love you
- Your own indomitable spirit
A Gift For You
- Crystal Clarity about your next steps &
- A clear and customized Action Guide to help you achieve what you want, PLUS
- Some resources to help you along your way.