With Canadian Thanksgiving coming up this weekend, I thought I’d share some thoughts on the topic of gratitude.
Practicing daily gratitude holds many benefits. From lower our stress levels to increase our happiness. Studies continue to show the tremendous power of giving thanks!
Gratitude can be as simple as smiling or saying thank you. It can also be a more intentional practice, like taking time to jot down a few things that you are grateful for each day or practicing gratitude through daily meditation.
Instead of giving thanks just one time a year, why not do it throughout? Here are 5 tips that I believe can help foster an attitude of gratitude all year long!
Tip #1 – Use Gratitude to change your state of mind. When something isn’t going your way or someone upsets you, try to list 3 to 5 things that you are grateful for in that moment. It could be something as simple your kids being ready on time or a co-worker bringing you a cup of coffee. Focusing on a few good things will help put whatever annoyances or hardships you are facing into perspective. The best part – when you start thinking this way, you’ll notice your bothers becoming less and less. Trust me, gratitude works!
Tip #2—Whenever you can, show that you are grateful. Actions speak louder than words. If you’re grateful for someone in your life, make time for them! Foster your relationships. Support your family and friends as much as they support you. I truly believe that one of the best ways to show gratitude is to simply be there for the people you love most. Send a quick text to a friend to tell her how much you value their friendship! I know I got one from my friend Christine yesterday and it put a big smile on my face!
Tip #3— Try to express gratitude daily, but don’t force it. If you’re having a bad day and can’t think of anything to be grateful for, that’s ok. Just like you can suffer from motivation fatigue, you can also suffer from gratitude fatigue. While I try to practice gratitude daily, some days I’m just not feeling it. Bottom line: Gratitude shouldn’t feel like a chore. Which leads me to my next tip…
Tip #4—Be Genuine. You don’t need to tweet and post every time someone does something nice for you. An authentic “thank you” holds so much more power. Say thank you when you truly mean it and even if no one is watching.
And finally Tip #5—Get your family and friends involved! The more grateful you are, the happier you are. Spread happiness with your family and friends by encouraging them to adopt an attitude of gratitude too. One way of doing this is by having your family and friends share a few things they are grateful for before digging into Thanksgiving dinner this weekend.
Wishing everyone a happy and safe Thanksgiving!