Thanksgiving is that time of year when we are reminded to take stock of all the wonderful things we have to be thankful for! Now, as much as I am committed to living my life with an “attitude of gratitude” all year long, let’s be honest with ourselves and admit that some days we wake up in a funk, focus on the negative, worry about the things we don’t have and simply feel sorry for ourselves! We are human and our feelings of gratitude can ebb and flow.
Life is not always easy and can throw obstacles our way that challenge us at the core and make it difficult for us to be thankful. I believe that these are the times when we need to focus on the positive the most and realize what we do have to be thankful for! So, thank you in advance, for allowing me to share a few ways to help you have an “attitude of gratitude” this Thanksgiving.
Tell five people you are grateful for them
OK, you computer junkies! I will not deny you the pleasure of sending this via email, but, trust me when I tell you, the power and emotion behind seeing the person’s face or hearing her voice on the phone will come back to you tenfold! So, tell five people that you are grateful for them and be very detailed in what you are grateful for. Speak from your heart and tell them how much they mean to you and why. You can choose anyone from your husband to your dog walker who gives Fluffy love while you’re at work! When you see how grateful these people are to be acknowledged, you will feel super grateful to have them in your life!
Choose a charity day
When you are feeling sorry for yourself, my first suggestion is to step outside yourself. There are always people facing challenges that are far worse than ours. I understand that this is all relative, but if we can walk away from our worries for a day, we often discover that we have more to be grateful for than we thought. For many years, I have supported women battling breast cancer and Variety children’s charity. There is nothing more gratifying than empowering people to battle their way back to health! Spend a day at a homeless shelter or a senior center and truly share the love in your heart. You will feel grateful that you did!
Create a 30-day gratitude book
When a spiritual healer told me to do this years ago, I wasn’t sure what the experience would be like for me. Well, it was incredible and I am now known to create a month long gratitude book about three times per year and use this exercise often in my coaching practice. So, grab an old journal or purchase a notebook and take a few minutes each day for thirty days and write everything you are grateful for! And, I mean everything! I write things from my family to my acting career, the fresh salad I had at lunch, my hardwood floors, even my car transporting me safely to my radio interview. Everything, even down to the small things we forget to be thankful for! When I create this, I feel a shift in my energy — attitude and positive things seem to flow into my life. Remember, we get more of what we focus on, so let that be gratitude!
Brooke Lewis is a Board Certified Coach who specializes in mentoring teens and adults. She founded Be You and Be Fearless Life Coach in order to help teens and adults build confidence and make powerful choices for themselves. In addition to coaching, Brooke is a contributor for The Huffington Post. Follow her on Twitter.
More on mind
Choosing our mood in times of unrest
Where do you stand on the self-image scale?
Holistic lifestyle tips
Leave a Comment