With the holidays and end of the year quickly approaching, this is a great time to reflect on and develop our feelings of thankfulness. This may seem like a simple and maybe even cliché concept, but in reality it is something that can truly affect our sense of well-being from the inside out. Developing a practice of gratitude opens our hearts and minds to new and different solutions as well as fostering a broader perspective on our experiences. The concept of gratitude acknowledges connection, which is central to spiritual practices from all over the world. Gratitude is relational and wants to be shared. It helps build stronger connection to others through kindness. In short, it can truly help us to feel “unstuck” and less alone. But like anything, it takes practice and attention to build this skill. Here are some quick tips to start developing an attitude of gratitude that can be implemented into any daily routine at any time of the day.

1. Write at least 1 thing down daily that you are grateful for
   Begin a practice of taking a couple minutes of your day to write down anything in your life that you are grateful for—perhaps in the morning to start your day on a positive note, or in the evening to end your day and begin your sleep with thoughts of thanks. You can have a gratitude journal or write notes down on post-its and hang them around your home or office as reminders for all that there is to be grateful for in your life. Simply taking a couple minutes to give notice to what is positive starts to exercise that muscle and soon you may notice more of what you have than what you don’t have.
2. Express yourself
   Let someone else in your life know that you’re starting a practice of gratitude and share with them what you’ve been noticing. Share your appreciation of their value in your life and reap the benefits of building stronger connections to those around you.
3. The opposite of negative is positive
   If you find yourself thinking something negative of someone or something, try to turn it around on itself and ask: What is one way I can look at this with a more positive lens? For example, if you find yourself stuck in a long line with patience running thin, can you look around you and notice something beautiful or different to focus your attention on?

Incorporating these simple practices (and any other gratitude practices) to your day can aid in reducing stress by creating space for a more positive mindset and builds resilience through self-compassion. In cultivating a practice of gratitude with children, the benefits are abundant. Those who experience feelings of gratitude cope better with life stressors because they realize that even though struggles happen, there is still much to be optimistic about and grateful for. It can also help children nurture positive relationships and encourage them to be helpful towards others around them. In the end, there is no detrimental effect to building an attitude of gratitude, so why not start?

If you are caught in a negative loop of anger or resentment and need support in building gratitude awareness, we are here to support you.