It’s always a bit challenging to inspire honest gratefulness when it’s officially assigned on the calendar. Still, some of us need prodding to acknowledge the goodness in our lives, especially when we’re feeling stressed, depressed or distracted.
As Thanksgiving approaches this week, we encourage you to make a genuine gratitude effort but keep it simple.
1) Go through your photos and look for experiences that strengthened, encouraged or refreshed you. Print the photo and write your thankfulness on the back then post it online or put it somewhere you can see it.
2) What conversations have you had recently that built you up, reminded you of your true self or inspired you in some way? How can you thank those people?
3) What person has contributed to your health, happiness or spiritual growth? Who has stretched you? Who has comforted you? Who is your cheerleader? Who makes your life easier? What can you do to communicate your gratefulness?
4) What is the smallest thing in your life right now that you can be grateful for?
5) If you’re going through a tough time, where can you find light in the darkness? Write it down- even if it’s just in your phone or on your calendar. If you can’t think of anything, recruit a friend or family member to help you mine for the goodness that seems disguised at the moment.
6) Take 5 minutes for meditating in a still place on the goodness of just being alive. Pay special attention to your 5 senses and to your breathing. Which two senses can you be most grateful for right now? How can you remain more aware of those senses throughout this week?
7) As you sit around the Thanksgiving table, be more specific about sharing what you’re thankful for. Start with the people seated around the table: In what ways are they a benefit to you? Where do they shine? Or what would you miss in your life if they were not there?
( *If you’re an adventurous group put everyone’s name in a bowl and spontaneously speak your gratitude for the person whose name you draw. What quality do you most appreciate about them? How have you seen them grow? How have they endured through difficulties?)
8) Read a poem or meditation on gratitude and share it with someone this week. Here’s one to get you started:
Gratitude
seeks the good
and drops an anchor there.
It is active
not passive
moving mountains
to find diamonds in the dirt.
Gratitude is vocal.
It speaks to what is working-
it waters the thirsty soul.
Gratitude leans toward the light,
gives dreams flight
puts hearts right.
It sees shine beneath the tarnish,
a win beyond a loss,
the appointment inside disappointment.
Gratitude banks on the benefits,
is humbled by its riches.
And though there is far to go
it celebrates the distance it has come.
Gratitude finds God-ness in the wind and the weeds.
It grasps for the good,
gives what it gets,
and spots Greatness in the smallest thing.
With gratitude
the cup of Life is not half full.
It is a gushing a geyser.
This blog was authored by Caron Loveless
Don’t miss Caron’s newest book called: SoulWise- 31 Ways To Grow A Healthy Soul. It’s going to be released next week. Look for details, in a few days, on how to obtain your copy.
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