In this week’s blog post, I have told you about our unexpected visit to the wrong house, and how grateful I was that it was indeed the wrong house. Reflecting back to those experiences and celebrating Thanksgiving this week along with our readers in the United States, I’d like to encourage you to linger a bit and reflect on what YOU are thankful for this week.
Here are two ways you can do this (but don’t hesitate to find your own - there’s no right or wrong):
Send someone a letter to say thanks, or say thanks in some other way.
If you choose to write a letter, don’t just say thanks; go into detail why it is that you are thankful for them and what they mean to you. This is a particularly helpful exercise if you are feeling down. Try it out, you’re likely to feel better after writing and delivering or sending the letter. Alternatively, you can give gratitude by giving someone a small bonus or surprising them with a bouquet of flowers. I am sure there are many more ways you can think of to thank someone.
Reflect on all the things you’re thankful for.
Take a few minutes and sit down in a quiet spot. Think about the people and things you’re thankful for, and the difference they’ve made in your life. Then move on to think about yourself and find some things that you appreciate about yourself. This can be anything; your health, your ability to connect with others, your enthusiasm, the love you feel for someone else. Lastly, finish with a general appreciation of your life.
Just as a side note I’d like to point out that there are actually quite a few studies out there that confirm what integrating gratitude into your life leads to a happier and more fulfilled life.
If you are interested in learning more about gratitude exercises and what they can do for you, you might want to look at this article that explains the benefits of gratitude exercises and gives you a variety of exercises to choose from.