Practicing Gratitude
Fall is a time of change. We swap our flip-flops for socks and boots, we feel the cool breeze blow away summer heat, and we watch the colorful leaves fall. Although this season brings great beauty and festivities, increasing thoughts of the chilly weather and fewer daylight hours may start to affect your mood. Nature’s changes can cause us to feel more sluggish, uninterested, and like we’re lacking focus. Looking for a good mood-booster to lighten your mood and feel reenergized? Try incorporating moments of gratitude into your daily routine to help you out of that late fall, early winter slump.
Practicing gratitude begins with being mindful. What do you see around you? Perhaps you notice an aging parent who had the strength to take a stroll in the park today. What do you hear? Perhaps you hear the sweet giggles of your children from the living room. What do you smell? Maybe it’s the scent of hot chocolate that you inhale as you sit down with a good book. All of our days, despite how hard they may be, are filled with these small, yet precious moments that we should recognize and be grateful for.
Why is it important to practice gratitude? By dedicating a small window of time in your daily routine to practice gratitude, you can focus on what you are thankful for. The more space you allow for these positive thoughts, the less space there is for the ones that overwhelm you and bring you down. As you fill your time with more positivity, you’re more likely to savor enjoyable experiences.
Here are some ways to incorporate gratitude into your life:
Journaling –
Journaling gives us an opportunity to be one with our thoughts, and one with our emotions. Embrace this twist on traditional journaling by simply keeping a gratitude journal, dedicated to thankful thoughts. Write down everything you are grateful for, no matter how small they may seem. Revisit this journal as often as possible—to jot down new additions, as well as to reread prior writings and remind yourself of what you have to be thankful for.
Communicate –
Let your loved ones know that they are loved. You can send a quick little note in a lunch bag, or maybe you hug just a little bit longer and squeeze a little bit tighter today. You can call someone who you haven’t seen in a while to show that you care. However you best express your gratitude for those in your life, just do it!
Find Meaning –
Even your darkest struggles and challenges will feel a little bit lighter once you make meaning of them. Look for the positive—it’s there. What have you learned from this experience? What lessons will you take with you moving forward? How has it made you a stronger, wiser person?
Slow Down –
We too easily get lost in the hustle and bustle of our daily lives. Hold onto little moments when you can, like a peaceful Sunday drive home from the grocery store or a yummy Tuesday dinner with the family after soccer practice. Be mindful of the beauty that surrounds you and the opportunity to just sit and breathe. Appreciate that moment. Love that moment.
If you’re feeling down or lethargic now that fall is in full swing, you’re not alone. Plenty of people’s moods change depending on the season. Luckily, practicing gratitude is an easy and effective way to boost your mood. With plenty of ways to add gratitude into your daily routine, why not start now? What do you have to be grateful for?