7 Tips for Practicing Gratitude All Year

How was your Thanksgiving? Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday for taking a step back and appreciating our family, friends, and the many gifts in your life.  This kind of gratitude practice is something you can initiate not just on Thanksgiving, but also all year round.

Practicing gratitude has many benefits. It can help you to feel more connected to loved ones, see the big picture, let go of small worries, and recognize what matters most in your life. Below are a few guidelines for practicing gratitude during Thanksgiving and as a part of your daily routine:

Practice Kindness

Remember to be kind to people you interact with and those who help you throughout your day. Take the time to smile and say thank you to co-workers, grocery store clerks, bank attendants, baristas and more.

Find Silver Linings

We can even be grateful for tough circumstances. If you are faced with a problem or challenging situation, ask how you can benefit in the long run or what you can learn from the situation.

Journal or Make Lists

About once per week write a journal entry or list naming at least one person, life lesson, or gift that you are grateful for. Don’t overdo this practice. Studies find that people who update their gratitude journals once weekly felt happier than those who updated three times per week.

Be Honest with Yourself

Don’t use gratitude to gloss over an unhappy situation or relationship. If you do find you feel negative about a person or scenario in your life identify the cause of your negative feelings and seek a resolution.

Communicate Thanks

When you feel positive or grateful about something, share that thought with the people around you. Don’t hesitate to give genuine compliments or let a friend or loved one know you appreciate their support, help, or kindness. There’s no need to look for opportunities to do this, just embrace feelings of gratitude and communicate them when you feel this way.

Be Fulfilled

Practicing gratitude can help to eliminate nagging wants and impulses. This can be especially helpful during the beginning of the holiday shopping season when pressure to spend and buy is at its height. Looking inward and giving thanks for what you already have can suppress urges to over-consume material goods.

Let Go

Gratitude journaling can help you to identify small worries and let them go. If you find yourself feeling overly negative about a person or situation, step back. Ask if this person or scenario is a real problem or not? Remember and give thanks for the times when relationships and experiences have actually supported you and made you feel happy.

What are you most grateful for this Thanksgiving? To start on the path to greater happiness and fulfillment, find out more about the “8 Steps to Becoming You,” program and how it can help you become your best self.