Make Every Day a Thanksgiving

Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings. -William Arthur Ward

During the month of November, especially as we get closer to Thanksgiving, our thoughts can be about gratitude.  I see prompts on social media and in stores that ask me what I’m grateful for this year.  I’m curious though why we just focus on gratitude for such a short time during the calendar year.  Why not make every day a Thanksgiving and express our gratitude throughout the year?

Making gratitude a daily practice can be life changing.  Telling someone that you are grateful for something that they did or even simply because they are in your life can completely change a relationship.  It helps you to focus on what you have instead of what your don’t have.  Expressing gratitude towards someone else is a gift that you can easily give to them.  You acknowledge your appreciation and they get to hear it.

However, gratitude doesn’t have to be expressed to another person.  You can write it in a journal each day.  Take a moment and write down 3 things that you are grateful for each day.  As you do it, notice your body.  I’m going to guess that when you are noticing what you are grateful for in your life, that you’re body is relaxed and at ease.  It’s hard to stay tense and stressed when you allow your mind and body to express gratitude.

I’ll admit that I’m not perfect at writing a list of things that I’m grateful for each day.  But, I do have a practice of frequently writing in my journal things that I’m grateful for.  It’s especially helpful when I’m not feeling my best or if life has gotten a little too hectic.  When this happens, if I take a moment, to remember what I have to be grateful for in my life, then my mindset changes and I can cope easier.

As I write this I’m grateful for the heat in my house on this cold rainy day.  I’m grateful for the good food that I just ate and I’m grateful for all of the support that I have in my life from both old and new friends.

If you’re new to expressing gratitude then try thinking of just one thing that you are grateful for in your life right now.  There’s no need to overthink it.  You can’t get it wrong.  If this isn’t a new idea for you, then try bringing gratitude into your life more frequently.  Notice how your mindset shifts.  Notice how your body reacts to this practice.

Make every day a day of Thanksgiving.  No extra cooking or eating is required.  Simply your awareness of the many blessings in your life is all that is needed.

A practice of gratitude can carry you throughout the year and help you to remember just how much is in your life already.  Instead of focusing your thoughts on things that you don’t have, focus your thoughts for a few minutes each day on what you do have in your life.  Your attitude might shift and some of those things that you don’t have but want just might show up as well.  Give it a try and let me know how it works for you.

Schedule a session with me and we can focus on bringing more gratitude into your life.