Every Thanksgiving dinner, without fail, my mom makes everyone at the table go around and share something they’re thankful for. We’ll hear the usual things—food, family, friends. And every so often, someone comes up with something creative. “I’m thankful for Chuck Norris and duct tape.”
For many, it’s a bit jarring coming up with something they’re thankful for. Anxiety, depression, and a general uneasiness about the world pervades our day-to-day life. We frequently forget to stop, take stock of our situation, and consciously be grateful for what we have in life.
The Benefits of Being Thankful
Did you know that giving thanks can actually make you happier? That’s right. Gratitude boosts your mood and your mental health. It improves your relationships. It even makes your heart healthier.
Ways to Practice Gratitude
Rather than the once-a-year Thanksgiving table gratitude session, why not start incorporating gratitude practices into your daily or weekly routine?
Here are some ideas to get your started.
- DAILY MORNING: Start your day by thinking about and writing down one thing you’re thankful for. Then a few months down the road, it’ll be an encouraging exercise to look back at what you wrote.
- DAILY AFTERNOON: Try to find positives in the negatives that come your way. (And negatives will come; you can count on it.) So when your frustration bubbles up in a stressful situation, consciously pause and think of a positive spin to that (seemingly only) negative situation.
- DAILY EVENING: Pray or meditate before bed. Thank the Creator for 2-3 things from your day. Or practice mindfulness and meditate on the top 2-3 high points from your day.
- WEEKLY: Instead of going around the table only on Thanksgiving, practice that exercise with your family every week. You’ll all start to get in the habit of looking at things from a perspective of gratitude.
- MONTHLY: Write a thank you text, email, or note to someone who you’re thankful for. Express your appreciation for how that person was there for you or how they impacted your life.
Let’s keep the gratitude going past Thanksgiving this year. It’ll improve your mental health, relational health, and physical health.
