Thanks

Therapy Tuesday
Photo by: dcjohn

Recently on Facebook, I noticed that friends of mine had posts that started with "Day 15: I'm grateful for..." For the month of November, they diligently have been posting about what they are thankful for. Perhaps its practice for the Day of Thanks or just an exercise in being more mindful.

Obviously, we don't need Thanksgiving to spend a day (or several hours) being thankful. But it serves as a cue or a reminder that there is importance in not only feeling grateful, but sharing and identifying what it is you are thankful for. Some days, this can be a tall order.

Is there a point to gratitude? Does it do something for us? According to Joel and Michelle Levey's article in the Huffington Post, there is something to be said for gratitude. Other research points to fewer physical ailments and better emotional health when the practice of gratitude is applied.

How does one even practice gratitude? Before going "all in" and changing your habits drastically, there are some "baby steps" you can try and you can then see how practicing being thankful impacts your everyday life.

--Make the Decision: feeling gratitude begins with your attitude.

--Start Slowly: Say "Thanks."

--Practice Random Acts of Kindness (Examples might be: Opening the door or paying for someones toll/coffee.)

--Challenge Yourself: Keep a journal (once a week, daily--you decide the frequency) or post to Facebook. Try to stick with this practice regularly for a set period of time. (Ex: Once a day for the month of December)

--Start with Yourself: Be good to yourself. Start by breathing for a few minutes or giving yourself a small amount of alone time.

How do you say thanks? What are you thankful for this holiday season?