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We had Thanksgiving recently, and most of us took at least a moment to reflect on what we’re thankful for. Recently, I shared with you a bunch of the benefits of keeping that gratitude going all year long. Hopefully you’ve been conscious of gratitude since then. Here, I’m sharing with you concrete ways to do it.
- One of the most efficient and effective ways to practice gratitude (note I said practice because it is literally something we have to make a conscious effort to do) is to keep a gratitude journal. There are many of these on the market. Here are some of my favorites:
- Keep a gratitude jar. Fill it each day with something you’re grateful for and review the notes at the end of the year to reminisce and celebrate the good things.
- Make gratitude a mealtime tradition. Have each person in your family state something they’re grateful for at dinner. It will enhance relationships and bonding in addition to teaching each other to be mindful of gratitude.
- Set a goal to give at least one compliment each day.
- Write a letter or quick note to someone to tell them what you appreciate about them.
- Do at least one act of kindness each day.
- Try to catch someone doing something good so you can acknowledge it.
- Sound genuinely excited to speak to whoever calls you, and look genuinely excited to see your family in the evening. It will immediately change the dynamic of the next few minutes of the interaction.
Choose one strategy to focus on this week, and then return to this post to try something different next week. Be grateful for the opportunity to practice gratitude!
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Hayden C. Finch, PhD,
is a practicing psychologist
in Des Moines, Iowa.
