Gratitude is the act of recognizing and acknowledging the good things that happen, resulting in a state of appreciation but the practice of gratitude includes acknowledging the source of that goodness and expressing appreciation for it.
Today we are going to discuss "The practice of Gratitude" as we wrap up the year many of us will be retreating and reflecting on the year and we highly recommend, but most times these reflections are on things left undone and unaccomplished but this time around we would like you to try something different, which is the practice of gratitude, not only does practicing acts of gratitude has surprising benefits on mental and physical health, it opens our eyes to see how much we have accomplished as well.
Maybe you’re a natural pessimist or you struggle to experience gratitude because it’s hard to see past all of the difficulties in your life. We hear you, it really can be difficult and, let’s face it, 2023 has been a challenge for all of us. We have all had to make difficult decisions, some of us have had to uproot our lives, and do harder things than we ever thought we would need to do.
Luckily, gratitude is a skill you can practice. Most people are not naturally gifted at gratitude and it takes a little while for it to start to feel natural in any way. But we guarantee that if you really commit to practicing gratitude for the rest of year, you will begin to see the positive benefits.
Here are three simple ways you can practice gratitude today:
Gratitude Notes
Journal, write it down! This is as simple as it sounds. Simply expressing gratitude in a private journal, notepad, sticky note, or whatever works for you, does the trick!
Speak Words of Gratitude
Say it out loud to yourself, your friend, or family. Creates a powerful sense of intimacy & vulnerability. This takes a little more work and may feel uncomfortable at first if you are not used to expressing yourself out loud to others. Start by picking something small and just saying it out loud to yourself, “I am grateful for another day to live.” Then, pick someone you are closest to first, and work your way out of your comfort zone as you wish. Perhaps this can be a regular practice with your best friend, sibling, or significant other if you want to practice this skill together.
Gratitude Letters
Write a letter to someone you are grateful for and send it via mail! This is a surprisingly powerful act of gratitude for both the giver and the receiver.
Spend some time writing out your thoughts on a card or letter (or email if you wish) to 1-3 people.
The benefits of this practice can last for up to a month after writing just one letter.
Whatever way you wish to start practicing gratitude, we hope you try at least one. Gratitude is a powerful act that benefits your health as well as the mental health of the person who you express gratitude to, and we can all use a little more love and appreciation in the new year and for the rest of the year.
Which of these are you going to try?
Wishing you a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year in advance.
Love,
M4M.