If next month is the time to be “merry”, this is the month to be grateful. Gratitude, being the lynchpin for a happy life, is the official celebration kicking off this holiday season.
We don’t build a happy life being grateful during the Thanksgiving holiday or when things seem to be going well. We must develop a “habit” of appreciation throughout each day and each event no matter how we evaluate the situation.
To encourage this practice of appreciation we must remember: “Gratitude turns what we have into enough.” – Author Unknown
Here are two powerful exercises you can do to build your gratitude into an everyday practice.
1 ) List building. Making a list is a powerful tool. Think, meditate and let yourself be caught up in the emotion of appreciation recalling events in your life. Here are a few list-builder ideas to help kick start a disposition of thankfulness. Be sure to identify by name and mentally thank each blessing.
-5 most important days in your life.
-5 most influential people in your life
-5 talents that you have
-5 loved ones who bring you joy
-5 hardships that you have overcome
-5 most important lessons that you’ve learned
Being able to name and identify all things as “blessings” will open our eyes to the miracles of every day.
2) Instead of counting sheep to help you fall asleep, try thanking the Shepard for the many gifts that you enjoy. But here’s the kicker: count your blessings in alphabetical order! Not only does this build thankfulness but also tires you out putting you to sleep with a grateful heart and restful soul.
Start building your habit of gratitude that will make every day Thanksgiving!
If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, “thank you,” that would suffice. ~Meister Eckhart
