Even though gratitude is something that should be felt year-round, it becomes extremely pertinent in our lives during the month of November. In the season of Thanksgiving we ought to take the time to think about what we are truly grateful for.
Reflect on who and what you find important in your life. Be thankful for where you came from, where you are now, and where you are going. Practicing gratitude allows us to cherish the now— ultimately becoming more motivated, less fatigued and better off as a whole.
Looking for the positive, even in difficult situations will definitely encourage gratitude.
Our minds are automatically trained to find the negative instead of the positive in the simplest of situations. “My mom isn’t answering the phone, I hope she’s okay.” Why do we immediately assume that something is wrong?
Using positive words and positive statements will allow our brain to have a major impact on our emotional outlook in life. Change your attitude when you can’t change your circumstance.
The Greek philosopher Epictetus said it best: “People are disturbed, not by things (that happen to them), but by the principles and opinions which they form concerning (those) things. When we are hindered, or disturbed, or grieved, let us never attribute it to others, but to ourselves; that is, to our own principles and opinions.” While this is easier said than done finding an optimistic viewpoint in bad situations will help us counteract the negative effects on our lives.
Express gratitude to others on a daily basis. “Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” — William Arthur Ward. It’s also important to express your appreciation to the people who love you, support you, and challenge you. Giving a larger tip than usual may seem like a small thing to you but it can make a huge difference in someone else’s day.
The simplest things such as writing a hand-written note or encouraging someone through a difficult situation will show just how much you care, and is also a way of showing your thankfulness to others.
Keep track of your gratitude. Do you have a favorite notebook/journal? A great way to track your thoughts of gratitude is by creating a positive habit of jotting down the things you are thankful for on a daily basis. Actively acknowledging what you’re grateful for will help you to have fullness in your mind and heart— even when bad things happen.
I’m sure we all are grateful for the major things in our lives such as having a roof over our heads, our family and friends and even our jobs but let’s also account for the little things. You can be thankful that you had the perfect dinner, your sister got into her top school or you had a chance to watch the sunset.
Simply admiring and accounting for the little things in life will change your perspective overall. Writing down what you are grateful for will open your heart up to so much more happiness.
We all live crazy busy lives but it is so important to take the time to stop and think about what we are grateful for. You won’t regret filling your heart as well as others with love and happiness.
Positively Caviar, Inc. is a nonprofit organization focused on a message of positivity and optimism. Once a month, our Nucleus Team writes a column focused on mental and physical health tips, scientific studies, nutrition facts and stories that are positive in nature to support a purposeful and positive lifestyle. To learn more about our organization, the nucleus team or how you join our positive movement, visit: staybasedandpositive.com