Thanksgiving is here! In addition to delicious food, Thanksgiving causes us to reflect upon gratitude. Today I share five "exercises" that will help you practice an attitude of gratitude, today and always.
Exercise 1: Use the “Thankful” Response
Whether you’ve been alive for 10 days or 10 years, you have likely been asked “how are you?” This question—although seemingly open to a longer response, is typically answered with a simple “fine, thank you.” But what if you’re not fine? Whether you are having a spectacular day or a challenging one, you can always respond, “I’m thankful.” This answer puts life into perspective, reminding you that you always have something to be thankful for—even if it is simply breath in your lungs!
Exercise 2: Create Grateful Art
If you can knit, try creating a gratitude quilt where each square represents something for which you are thankful. Perhaps orange reminds you of your mom because that is her favorite color, so one square would be orange. Think of your blessings symbolically and translate those symbols into a quilt rich with gratitude!
For those of us who cannot knit (yours truly), one alternative is to make a gratitude collage! You can use magazine photos as well as photos of pets, family, and friends. Buy a small or large poster board and a glue stick and fill the poster board with your blessings. To preserve the collage, frame and hang your creation on a well-known wall in your home.
Exercise 3: Find Your Silver Linings
Consider your life for a moment, and all that you have walked through to get to where you are today. Think of 10 difficult situations you have walked through. On a sheet of paper, write each challenging situation and how it (1) made you grow or (2) led to a blessing in disguise. For example: I lost life as I knew it when my family moved to Oklahoma, but the move taught me to adapt and gave me my best friend.
Each challenge may have caused you to grow in multiple ways. List them all, and remember that every cloud has a silver lining.
Exercise 4: Create a Gratitude Playlist
Using your favorite music app, create a gratitude playlist that you can listen to, especially when you are faced with a tough day. Pick songs that you gravitate toward, but only songs with messages about gratitude, celebrating life, or life getting better. Some examples are:
“Blessing After Blessing” - Positive - (Caribbean)
“If It Had Not Been” - Kierra Sheard - (inspirational)
“Grateful” - Coko - (inspirational/R&B style)
“Thank You Lord” - Florida Georgia Line - (country)
“Over and Over” - Trin-I-Tee 5:7, PJ Morton - (inspirational)
“I Smile” - Kirk Franklin - (inspirational)
“Enjoy the Ride” - Krewella - (EDM)
“Neon Light” - Blake Shelton - (country)
“Thank You” - Chris Brown - (R&B)
“Savior King” - Hillsong United - (Inspirational)
“Gratitude” - Brandon Lake - (inspirational)
“Amazing Grace” - Pentatonix - inspirational
“A Friend Like You”- Andy Grammer - (pop)
“Celebrate” - Pitbull - (Latin/Dance)
“I’m So Blessed” - Cain, Aaron Cole – Aaron Cole Mix - (inspirational)
“Blessings” - Lecrae - (inspirational/hip-hop)
“1 Blessed Thing” - Champion Life, Koryn Hawthorne - (inspirational)
“Agradecido” - Danny Gokey - (inspirational/Latin)
“Se Sufre Pero Se Goza” - Max Pizzolante - (Latin)
“Round of Applause by Lecrae - (inspirational/hip-hop)
“Dirt” Mary Mary - (inspirational)
In fact, I’m going to give you something new to be thankful for—here is a link to my gratitude playlist! You’re welcome 😉.
Exercise 5: Make a Running List of Blessings
What are you thankful for? Using pen and paper or a computer, start listing everything you can thank God for in your life. Everything from your family to shelter to pumpkin spice lattes, rejoice in your blessings. Add to this list on a weekly basis for endless gratitude.
Conclusion
Life has taught me that there are three keys to happiness: (1) Live to Give. (2) Have Faith in God, and (3) Always Be Grateful. I have (and am currently) walking through situations that could destroy me, but I live by these three keys. I challenge you to focus on these three keys as well. Although you will experience a wide range of emotions that life brings, you will always emerge unshakable with faith, love, and joy!
Comentários