Thanksgiving is a time of expressing how grateful we are for everything. It's a lovely, warm feeling.
But did you know you can experience this year-round? In fact, it's a pretty important part of wellness and focus.
And not in a Disneyland "I vow to be a happier person after the holidays, only to forget about it all on January 8th" kind of way. But with intentional action.
Most people don't know what a gratitude journal is. But it is a powerful tool to train yourself to think more positively about the world.
It's a simple concept. Every morning, just make a list of the things you're grateful for. However big or small. For example:
I'm grateful for the air I get to breathe today.
I'm grateful I have functioning arms and legs.
I'm grateful that my vision works properly.
I'm grateful for the technology that allows me to communicate with people all over the world at the touch of a button.
And the list can go on as long or short as you want. But by doing this, you are willing yourself to have a positive outlook on the world.
Left to the mind's negativity bias, we can easily feel like everything sucks when we're in the thick of work, life, family, etc.
Take a few minutes every morning. Write what you are grateful for. Try it for a week, then come back and let us know how it works in the comments below.
I went to a health conference recently that taught the A, B, C’s of gratitude…literally! They taught us to use the letters of the alphabet to come up w ideas of what we’re grateful for: A- abode, I’m grateful for my abode and a roof over my head or I’m grateful I got an “A” in math, B- grateful for my brother, C- I’m grateful for my car!! It just puts another fun element to what could become rote & boring. Try it. And if u get thru all 26 letters, try double letters. AA- I’m grateful for the Awesome Apple I had for lunch!! Have fun & go crazy w it!! Says the lady w the pink glasses!!