You may have been bombarded with messages about gratitude, especially around Thanksgiving. But let's be honest, sometimes it can feel forced, like we should be grateful for that extra slice of pie instead of genuinely feeling it.
True gratitude runs deeper than holiday feasts. It's a mindset, a way of approaching life that allows us to appreciate the good, even amidst challenges. And the best part? Cultivating gratitude doesn't require a special occasion.
Here are five ways to ingest gratitude into your daily life:
1. Give Yourself an Extra Helping of Positivity Everyday:
It's easy to overlook the simple things. But often, those "little things" are the foundation of our happiness. Start noticing and appreciating the everyday blessings: a drink that warms your insides, a sunny day amongst the Fall cloudy ones, being warm and cozy when it’s cold outside, a meme that makes you giggle, or even just the feeling of safety and comfort of being in your own home. These small moments of joy can add up and positively trigger those yummy feel-good chemicals.
2. Pass the Gratitude Dish Rather Than Just the Potatoes:
Reach out to a friend, family member, or colleague and ask them what they're grateful for or considering asking your family at the Thanksgiving dinner table. Not only will this conversation give you insight into their world, but it can also create a positive and uplifting shared experience. You might be surprised by their answers and discover new things to appreciate in your own life.
3. Harvest Gratitude from Your Memory Patch
Our memories hold a feast full of gratitude. Reflect on past experiences where you felt deeply grateful, happy, and/or positive. Maybe it was a kind gesture, a personal achievement, a fun holiday gathering, a delicious meal where you felt satiated and content, or overcoming a difficult task (if you cooked a moist delicious turkey then you’ve definitely done good). Feasting on your happy memories will help fill you up with gratitude and lay more seeds for positivity growth.
4. Actively Keep a Gratitude Journal:
Commit to writing down five things you're grateful for each day. Don't overthink it!
It could be as simple as:
Waking up to a new day
A comfortable chair or couch to rest on
The fresh air of a cool fall morning
A silly Gif of a turkey dancing on someone’s head
Receiving an extra helping of love, affirmation, or service
The act of writing reinforces these positive feelings and can help you focus on the abundance in your life. Kind of like realizing you have enough food to feed a small army – now that's something to be thankful for!
5. Practice Gratitude Mindfulness:
Take a few moments to be fully present in the here and now. What can you appreciate in this very moment? Connect with your senses; what do you see, feel, hear, taste, or smell? This may include the gentle rhythm of your breath, the comfort of your chair, the softness of your clothes, pleasant sounds of nature around you, or seeing this blog on your computer or phone. Mindfulness and being fully present with ourselves can help us connect with the present and find gratitude in the simplest of experiences. Slow down and savor every morsel and bite that life has to offer you.
Think of gratitude as a plump, happy turkey trotting through the fields of your life! It's not just a destination you reach on Thanksgiving Day, but a joyful turkey trot you take all year round. By gobbling up these gratitude practices daily, you can transform those fleeting "thank you" moments into a feast of happiness that nourishes your soul. Just like a cornucopia overflowing with blessings, gratitude will become a lasting source of joy, resilience, and inner peace that keeps you feeling full and thankful long after the last slice of pumpkin pie is gone. 🦃🍂