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Would having Thanksgiving every day improve our health? Yes. But this doesn’t mean heaping our plates full of turkey, gravy, stuffing and pie daily. It means being grateful every day.
One of the special things about Thanksgiving is expressing our gratitude. The holiday reminds us to pause, reflect and see the blessings in our lives.
Can we be grateful every day even when we feel overwhelmed or when upsetting events occur? Yes. That’s when you need an extra dose of gratitude that can give you a new perspective.
Gratitude is an attitude – a sense of appreciation for the gifts in our life. Research shows that practicing gratitude can make you healthier and happier. It improves sleep, boosts immunity and improves relationships. Focusing on blessings can help ward off depression and build resilience in times of stress and grief. While we can’t always choose what happens to us, we can choose how we feel about it.
Some techniques to help you to build your sense of gratitude:
- Start The Day With Gratitude. As soon as you wake up, before you get out of bed, practice gratitude. Take a few deep breaths and think about three people in your life that you are grateful for. While breathing in slowly and deeply, visualize the first person. Then send him or her your silent gratitude as you breathe out. Repeat the exercise with each person. To remind you to do this practice, write a sticky note with the word “Gratitude” on it and post it in your bathroom or put it in your calendar.
- Keep A Gratitude Journal. Studies suggest that writing in a gratitude journal one to three times per week might actually have a greater impact on our happiness than journaling every day. Write down three things for which you feel grateful. The things you list can be relatively small in importance, such as someone opening the door for you or feeling a breeze on your face. The goal of the exercise is to remember a good event, experience or people in your life—then savor the positive emotions that come with it. Write down how these events made you feel at the time and how this event makes you feel now.
- Count Your Blessings, Not Sheep. Before going to sleep or if you awaken during the night and can't sleep, review the things you have done that day and the people in your life and look for moments that make you realize how fortunate you are.
“Look closely and you will find that people are happy because they are grateful. The opposite of gratefulness is just taking everything for granted…The root of joy is gratefulness...It is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful.” David Steindal-Rast (Benedictine Monk)
Meet others talking about how they incorporate gratitude into daily life in the gratitude discussion.
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Yes I too will join the gratitude group! Wonderful reminder shanke49
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2 ReactionsI would also like to join.
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2 ReactionsHow wonderful that our Gratitude Group (GG) is growing each day.
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1 Reactionyes yes! I would like to join! what a great idea!
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2 ReactionsWelcome to you as well!
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1 ReactionWelcome to every one of you! So happy to be here in the middle of all of this Gratitude. Today when I checked in here, I was feeling grateful that my next door neighbor came over with hot popovers for breakfast. It was such a happy start to the day! Then I read the post by @damlady2 about her granddaughter and I could just feel the huge magnitude of HER gratitude. It really made me realize how uplifting it can be to share the moments that really fill us with true thanksgiving. So let's start sharing those moments here with each other. Whether you are grateful for a delicious popover, some little kind word or action, or some really great accomplishment or gift - big or small - let's share! I have a hunch this is going to be a REALLY inspiring Thanksgiving weekend. PS: I'm going to an Arts & Crafts Festival in town today and I'm planning to buy my Gratitude journal!
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4 Reactions@debbraw A few weeks ago I was in a local arts and crafts store, and came across a small book called "The Positive Journal" by Nancy F. Clark. A 365 day journal, taking 5 minutes or so a day, to make you think, reflect, and bring more positivity to your life. Tomorrow will be the end of week 7; I have missed only 2 days. Usually done each morning first thing, it is helping me focus. This, plus CBD oil, Zentangle, and making a big effort to tame my thoughts, is making a difference for me. Even my husband notices! And heaven knows I have many blank books so a gratitude journal can easily be created. So glad to be here. My gratitude today is watching my cat curled into herself, trusting me to hold the world at bay, while husband has gone out to breakfast with his long-time friend.
Ginger
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2 ReactionsWell you guys, you dragged me in...I’m horrible at this.
I’m currently with mom at the hospital. She, thank God, only has a UTI. I say it that way because this can be treated. She was shaking from head to toe at home for the longest time and unresponsive. I only could remember Michelle deep breathing lessons when we took yoga at Habit. I am grateful she showed us how to do it. With this lesson, I was able to calm her down. It even calmed me down. Thanks so much Michelle. I felt you were there soothing us with your calmness. We are spending the night at the hospital since mom is under observation. Love to read all of the postings.
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3 ReactionsI beg to differ with you, @dorisa. You are great at this! Your post about gratefulness while in the hospital with your mom was just perfect! Welcome to the Grateful Group of Connect.
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1 ReactionHey Gratitude friends, It turns out this blogspot page may not be the best space for us to start our Gratitude Discussion Group so I'm trying to move us over to another group where we have plenty of room to talk about our Gratitude Journey. @hopeful33250, @providence1960, @jodeej, @damlady2, @gingerw, @snagulpuss, @sarah49, @marilyncko, @reenj62, and @dorisa - will you join me over here to kick off our Gratitude Group? Please click on the link below, and if I left out anyone or you know someone who wants to join us, invite them!
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/gratitude-discussion-group/
I'm so thrilled that we are getting off to such a good start. Thanks to all - and I'll see you over in the other group soon.
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2 Reactions