Gratitude is a feeling of appreciation for what brings us joy, inspiration, meaning, and purpose. Feelings of appreciation can arise from a wide range of sources. They may come from receiving a tangible gift from someone expressing kindness towards us, hearing words of encouragement, or noticing everyday things such as our friends and family, our health, or that warm welcome from a beloved pet. The list is endless. Gratitude helps us thrive because it’s a foundational emotion.
Gratitude is essential to a positive mindset because the benefits flow in multiple directions. For example, being the recipient of an expression of gratitude prompts a feeling of gratitude inside of us. And expressing gratitude to another often prompts that person to also express their appreciation to us...thus prompting an upward spiral of positive behavior that spreads from one person to another.
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Gratitude has many advantages to help people of all ages thrive. Living from a place of gratitude helps individuals, groups, and organizations manage their attention, make wiser decisions, and create more supportive relationships. It’s also been linked to many mental and physical benefits.
Through gratitude, people find satisfaction in life, stronger relationships, and discover that they’re more resilient in difficult times. When living with appreciation becomes a part of who you are, you increase feelings of optimism and well-being and even become a catalyst for spreading gratitude to others.
10-Day Countdown to Thanksgiving
If you are reading this on the day it is posted, it’s about ten days to Thanksgiving. Instead of one day of feeling and expressing gratitude, let’s try to make it a 10-day experience!
Many people find that keeping a gratitude journal is a powerful way to incorporate gratitude into their lives. This is an incredibly effective way to begin a new day with a positive mindset.
However, while some people may start writing in a journal, they discover it’s hard to sustain this new habit. So, here’s a simple idea, another way to incorporate gratitude into your day.
Start a Gratitude Jar
Begin by finding a jar or container big enough to hold one small piece of paper per day for each person participating in the challenge. Think about using something you already have. There is no need to buy something new. See if you can find a clear container for a visual reminder of all the good things in your life.
To make it easy, keep a notepad and pen near your container to quickly make a “gratitude” note and put it in the jar. I like to use multiple colored post notes.
Try to find something different to acknowledge each morning to keep it interesting. You don’t have to think too hard about this. Just write down whatever comes to mind, no matter how insignificant.
An excellent activity on Thanksgiving Day would be to pull notes from the jar and read what has been written. This is a great way to get a double dose of gratitude. This way, your Gratitude Jar is always full.
Before you race off to look for that perfect jar, take a moment to consider, “What are you grateful for right now?”