Being more grateful for things in your life is a wonderful way to practice self-care in the fall, and with Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year, and other days of celebration close at hand, this is so much more beneficial for your health and wellness than you might think. It will help you exude positivity, help others feel good about themselves, and help you understand all the amazing things in your life to be grateful for. But let’s be honest…Sometimes this is easier said than done in the midst of the holiday chaos. When you are surrounded by family drama, busy schedules, missing loved ones, frustrated with where you are in life, and so on, it can be very difficult to see the blessings among the other issues at hand. It is vital to cultivate gratitude even when it’s hard because then we are open to the joy and abundance available to us despite negative circumstances. Here are a few tangible ways to cultivate gratitude as we close 2019 and prepare for a brand-new year.
Use Your Journal
The first way you can express gratitude during the fall season is by writing about it in your journal. This is a really simple method, since you are likely using your journal every day already. It can be as simple as a sentence or two in your daily journal entry about what you are grateful for, or you can have a goal of 3-5 things each day you want to be thankful for.
Another option is to start a gratitude journal, where the entire journal is used exclusively for that purpose.
Use Your Planner
Not a fan of journaling? Use your daily planner. If you are like me, you may have one or so planners hanging out that you thought for sure you would use this year. If you have a daily planner that helps keep track of your schedule, goals, and to-do lists, this is another simple play to practice gratitude each day. Typically, it works great in a daily entry, or each day in the weekly portion. If there are areas for extra notes, just write down at least one thing you feel grateful for each day, and it will allow you to be a lot more positive and thankful for the good in your life, as opposed to dwelling on the negative. Use those fun colored pens you bought (or is that just me?)
Try Gratitude Mantras
Another option is to write down some mantras for the use of gratitude and say them to yourself each day. This is a great way to feel more positive inside and out, and really exude that throughout the day. You can write them on sticky notes and put them on the mirror in your bathroom, write them in your journal, or keep a notebook with you to read them out loud whenever you feel you need the reminder.
Tell Someone in Person
Do you feel gratitude toward someone who has been a good influence in your life, or who you look up to? Tell them! There is no better way to express gratitude about a person than to tell them directly. It is a wonderful confidence boost for them, and really helps to spread the positivity around. Writing a gratitude letter and sharing it with someone you appreciate is a powerful way to express your thanks and bless them with a tangible thank you.
My wish for you is to have an open heart and be ready to receive abundance when you practice gratitude daily. May this holiday season be one that fills you up and others around you!
