Very soon, in approximately 3 weeks, Thanksgiving will be celebrated. Most of us were taught that Thanksgiving symbolizes the start of the holiday season. Why? Because Thanksgiving is a special day designated for giving thanks. Why this is not celebrated every day I do not know but that is another blog… 😊 Back to Thanksgiving day… During this special holiday we feed the body with delicious food and the heart with thanks. While it feels good to give thanks on this day, giving thanks daily yup every single day of the year would make us feel better in the long run.
What is gratitude?
Gratitude is more than an attitude or saying thanks. Robert Emmons defines gratitude as, “a felt sense of wonder, thankfulness and appreciation for life.” This definition is amazing and opens us to a plethora of opportunities to be grateful. The challenge is remembering to do it every day, especially during the tough times!
Here are a couple of ways to help inspire you to begin a gratitude practice. If you have one already, your ahead of the game keep it up!!!
Journal – Start a gratitude journal. This can and will help you during the good and the bad times of life. This exercise trains your brain to look for the good in all situations.
Walk – As you walk from one place to another, find as many objects as possible to be grateful for. This helps increase your level of energy and happiness if you feel tired or anxious. It can definitely turn your “frown upside down.” I always say go outside and make someone smile…. This is why!!
If you are asking why this is important?
Here are 5 reasons to start with and can inspire you to begin adding the gratitude practice into your life.
Resilience – Gratitude fosters resilience.
Relationships – Gratitude is the way to grow a relationship. Expressing gratitude for each other are motivators to maintain relationships with each other.
Sleep – Gratitude before bed helps with sleep. 15 minutes of writing in a gratitude journal before sleep promotes better sleep.
Happiness – Gratitude is linked to happiness. If you need a quick way to cheer up, start listing some things you are grateful for to turn your emotions around.
Save – Collect moments of gratitude in a jar. This exercise is fun to watch as the gratitude fills the jar.
There you have it folks. The thoughts on my mind and ideas to help you remember how awesome and helpful gratitude is in our lifes!!!
Peace and Happiness