↞ LIVING IN GRATITUDE↠
Megan Allen
"When we root ourselves in gratitude, our joy grows + blossoms. It reaches up + branches out until a forest blankets the Earth + fills the whole sky." - GTs
With Thanksgiving this week, this is an excellent time to give thanks and express gratitude for our family and friends, our health, community, experiences we have had and things we have both big and small. If you don't already have a regular gratitude practice, this is a perfect time to start one. Below you will find lots of ideas to get started.
GRAT∙I∙TUDE
The quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.
IMPORTANCE OF GRATITUDE
Cultivating an attitude of gratitude is one of the simplest ways to transform your life. A gratitude practice is a wonderful way to appreciate what you already have as opposed to focusing on a lack or reaching for something new that you hope will make you happier. Gratitude helps to increase positive emotions, happiness and self-esteem and reduce stress and anxiety.
7 SCIENTIFIC BENEFITS OF GRATITUDE
These benefits may motivate you to practice gratitude year round. (Source)
∙ Gratitude opens the door to more relationships
∙ Gratitude improves physical health
∙ Gratitude improves psychological health
∙ Gratitude enhances empathy + reduces aggression
∙ Grateful people sleep better
∙ Gratitude improves self-esteem
∙ Gratitude increases mental strength
WAYS TO PRACTICE GRATITUDE
There are many ways to practice gratitude. Even five minutes a day can make a big impact in your life. Here are a few ideas to get you started. I encourage you to try one or more of these for thirty days and see what fits best for you to incorporate into your daily self-care ritual.
∙ Keep a gratitude journal (Start with Gratitude is the journal I love and use every day)
∙ Practice gratitude affirmations
∙ Say a prayer of thanks
∙ Meditate
∙ Make a gratitude jar and fill it with one thing you are grateful for each day
∙ Write a letter to someone you are grateful for
GRATITUDE AFFIRMATIONS
∙ I am grateful for being alive
∙ I am grateful for who I am
∙ I am grateful for my mind, body and soul
∙ I am grateful for the air in my lungs and the beating of my heart
∙ I am grateful to have a roof over my head and clean drinking water
GRATITUDE WRITING PROMPTS
∙ I am grateful for...
∙ I am thankful for...
∙ Moments I appreciated today...
∙ People I loved talking to today...
∙ Small things that made me smile today...
∙ Good things I did for someone today...
Enjoy expressing and spreading gratitude. Wishing you and your loved ones a safe, healthy and happy Thanksgiving.
With Love + Gratitude,
Megan