(Originally posted in the Huffington Post on November 16, 2016.)
This lovely time of year always reminds us of the people and things that we’re grateful for. Practicing gratitude by being thankful for and mindful of what you have is a great way to take care of yourself. It’s no surprise that those who experience more gratitude have a better quality of life, are happier, and are more successful.
Practicing gratitude helps keep the focus on positives instead of negatives. That itself will make life more enjoyable! When you’re thinking about what is good in your life, it elevates your mood and keeps any stresses in perspective. In many ways, gratitude yields a more meaningful life.
Being grateful can help you become more productive, boost your career, and develop a better personality (http://bit.ly/2dWIZEu). You may even find that people are more drawn to you and find you more trustworthy. This can both boost how you feel about yourself, and the way others perceive you.
Try practicing any of these nine ways to cultivate gratitude in yourself, and express your appreciation for others:
- Keep a Gratitude journal and add to it daily
- Take a few minutes each day to enjoy the beauty of nature
- Smile more often
- Tell those important to you that you love them – right now!
- Cook meals for others
- Spend quality time with your kids
- Avoid negative media and destructive content
- Avoid gossip
- Live mindfully: don’t worry about the past or the future. Be in the moment
Let’s not limit ourselves to this season, but rather practice gratitude every day to live a happier, healthier life. May you all have a wonderful holiday season!