The Gift Of Gratitude

This is the time of year when we begin to prepare for the holidays. We reflect on the year past and contemplate making improvements in the year to come. Thanksgiving is traditionally a time of year when we come together with family and friends to acknowledge our blessings and celebrate in the spirit of gratitude, abundance, plenty, and appreciation.

Our thoughts are creative. What we focus on stays the longest and grows the strongest. What have you been focused on? Have you been focused on the aspects of your life that create satisfaction or those that lead to dissatisfaction? Think about your average day. Do you spend the majority of your time feeling fulfilled or frustrated? By shifting your thoughts from displeasure to thankfulness, you create positive feelings of joy, love, peace, and happiness. It sounds simple. However, many of us have never been taught the power of genuine gratitude.

Gratitude is defined as a feeling of thankfulness and appreciation for favors or benefits received. We all have something to be grateful for. The simple fact that you are reading this article, that your heart is beating, and that you have blood flowing through your veins are just a few examples. Buddha was quoted as saying, “Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn’t learn a little, at least we didn’t get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn’t die; so, let us all be thankful.”

In her book, “Gratitude: A Way of Life,” author Louise Hay says that “Gratitude changes the way we view life and ourselves.” We have a renewed perspective and experience more hope and contentment when we view our lives with appreciation. We create the space for more good to appear in our lives. This is the gift of gratitude!

With greater appreciation, we can live our lives with ease and grace. Through the power of gratitude, we have renewed energy to sustain us in the challenging times we all face in life. We can pause to appreciate our accomplishments and celebrate life instead of moving towards the next goal or phase in our lives with little joy or self-recognition.

So how can you begin to shift your thoughts to those of gratitude? I’m glad you asked. Here are a few tips to support you.

1. A daily gratitude practice.

Keep a daily gratitude journal. In this journal, list at least 5 things you are grateful for each day. As you consistently use your gratitude journal, you will begin to experience greater enjoyment in life. By actively searching for and focusing on those aspects of your joyful life, you will experience a greater sense of fulfillment, no matter how big or small. Of course, there will be days when keeping this journal will be easier than others. On those more challenging days, try to note the smaller aspects that you are grateful for, like breathing. In studies of gratitude, habitually grateful individuals are happier and healthier than those who are not.

2. Write letters of appreciation to your loved ones.

Another suggestion is to write letters expressing your gratitude to your loved ones. The benefits of gratitude letters are two-fold. By expressing your heartfelt appreciation to another, you will experience genuine appreciation for yourself and the goodness of another. The recipient of the letter will know that their actions are well received and appreciated. It is recommended to deliver your gratitude letter in person and ask the person to read it in your presence. If personal deliveries are not possible, gratitude letters can also be sent through text message, snail mail, or email.

3. Focus on your good.

You can experience the gift of gratitude by focusing your thoughts and emotions on those aspects of your life that are working for you. Try recalling a period in your life when you were joyful. Look at old photographs and videos that document this happy time. Focusing on happy past experiences rekindles old feelings of gratitude. Think about the aspects of your life that work for you instead of what you’ve lost or haven’t obtained. Visualize yourself full of joy, feeling grateful, and having your heart’s desire. You will have more peace when you focus on the good (love, appreciation, kindness, etc.) in your life.

I hope that you allow yourself to experience the fullness of true Thanksgiving and that you share the gift of gratitude this holiday season.

All My Love, ❤️

Danielle