Let's Chat About...Gratitude
It's Thanksgiving month, so let's take a moment and reflect on all the things we are grateful for!
Gratitude: -the quality of being thankful
-appreciation
How often in a day do we say, "Thank You"? Is it a canned response or habitual instinct? Do we really even think about why we are saying it? I challenge you to be thoughtful and recognize how often you say these words in a day. Then, take the time to reflex on what you are actually grateful for in that moment.
I'm not saying it's a bad habit to be in, but it does us good to be conscientious of our words and actions.
Count Your Blessings
What does it exactly mean to count your blessing? It could mean different things to different people, but for me it means taking the time to reflect and really appreciate what God has given to me.
Family
Family is one of the easiest blessings to take for granted. Do we take the time to express how grateful we are to have them in our lives? Do we share our appreciation with them and let them know how we feel? Understanding that nobody is perfect and that there is good in everyone is very important. Challenge yourself to see the good instead of focusing on the bad qualities.
Health
Our personal health goes beyond physical; it also includes mental & emotional. Health is another blessing that is easy to overlook. We tend to concentrate on the negative issues that we are having rather than being thankful for the good health we do have.
Friends
Friends are special blessings to be grateful for. We can't choose our family or our health, but we can choose our friends. It's important to express how much we appreciate them.
These are just a few blessing ideas but there are many more to consider, such as our faith, employment, meals, pets or material possessions. We all have things in our lives to be thankful for, maybe we just need to dig a little deeper to find them.
Each night when I go to bed and say my prayers, I try and think of 5 different things that have happened throughout the day that I am thankful for. These could be big, but most of the time they are the little things. A few examples include: hitting all green traffic lights, a compliment I received, winning a sporting event, a random phone call from a friend or family...and the list goes on and on.
I try and keep these moments specific and different every day. Not things like: I'm thankful for my family, or I'm thankful for the food I ate today.
Another great way to reflect and express your gratitude is by keeping a journal. I find this very helpful and the more you do it, the easier it is to be grateful!
I have found a website that I really like that sells journals, planners and calendars. They have some really neat stuff that can help you to get back on track. Click the link below to visit their site:
So, moving forward, try and be mindful daily of all the things in your life that you are thankful for! And share your gratitude with others!
If you have any insight or suggestions on this topic, please comment below.
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