Practicing Gratitude
As Thanksgiving approaches it is the perfect time to stop and practice gratitude. Gratitude is pausing to notice and appreciate the things we may often take for granted, like having a place to live, food, clean water, transportation, friends, and family.
Dr. Robert Emmons, gratitude researcher and author (Gratitude Works), points out: “Gratitude is about remembering…A French proverb states that Gratitude is the memory of the heart.”
He goes on to say: “Gratitude has one of the strongest links to mental health and satisfaction with life of any personality trait, more so than even optimism, hope, or compassion.”
As we enter the Thanksgiving season below are some ways to practice gratitude:
- Make a gratitude jar to collect words and drawings of things you are grateful for.
- Keep an individual or family gratitude journal (written or drawn).
- Make a family collage with pictures of things you are grateful for.
- Use everyday conversations as teachable moments to express gratitude.
- Write messages expressing gratitude for family members and friends.
- At meal or bedtime reflect upon gratitude “sunshine’s” of the day.
- Do kind things for others.
- Volunteer at a family shelter.
- Practice the habit of saying “thank you,”
- Model gratitude.
- Add your own!
Don’t miss this month’s Resource Connection section for Attitude of Gratitude and What Are You Grateful/Thankful For? activities. These are fun activities to help reinforce the importance of practicing gratitude during the holidays and all throughout the year.
With Gratitude,
The Rainbow Days Training Team
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