Source of Joy
It seems that time is moving faster than ever these days and Thanksgiving is already upon us. While you may be preparing for travel to visit family or getting your home ready to host guests for the day, it is also important to take the time to slow down and pause for a minute to appreciate everything you have.
Actually, take five minutes. Research shows that just five minutes of gratitude a day can enhance your happiness level by more than 10%. Other benefits of a regular gratitude practice include increased self-esteem, enhanced friendships, less envy, and more resiliency. The National Institutes of Health found that a regular gratitude practice can decrease signs of heart disease.
A gratitude practice doesn’t have to be difficult or take a lot of time. Here are some easy steps to help you get started:
Get a notebook or tablet and a pen. There are also some cool new gratitude journals available for sale. Here is a popular one. You can also purchase the MŌR JOY Guidebook here, which includes several tips on bringing more joy to your life, including gratitude.
Pick a time of the day. Gratitude practices typically work best first thing in the morning or right before bedtime. First thing in the morning, can set the tone for the day and start your day off in a positive mindset. A gratitude ritual at bedtime, helps you calm down before falling asleep with good thoughts and feelings.
Combine it with something you love. That might mean having a warm cup of tea and honey in your favorite mug while snuggled up in bed. Or it may mean adding some gratitude thoughts into your favorite journal.
Make it a challenge. If having a challenge or goal motivates you, challenge yourself to complete a daily 5 minute gratitude practice for one week, then reward yourself with something you enjoy.
Include others. Share the benefits of a gratitude practice with others close to you. Make it a habit to share what you're grateful for with that person, and ask them to do the same. This will enhance the overall effects for yourself and the other person.
Celebrate. You’ll feel the effects of gratefulness immediately but, also acknowledging this positive behavior will help ensure it continues to be a habit. Whatever your gratitude goal, acknowledge and celebrate your progress and achievement of that goal. Ideas include sharing with others, journaling how happy it makes you feel, buying a new pen or journal, or treating yourself to a long walk or coffee stop.
Thanksgiving is the perfect time to stop and appreciate everything you have. Why reserve this for just one day during the year, when giving thanks is such a source of joy?
“Your terrible job is the dream of every unemployed. Your house is the dream of every homeless. Your smile is the dream of the depressed. Your health is the dream of the ill. Your lifestyle is the dream of somebody else. Don’t let difficult times make you forget your blessings.”
