I love this time of year despite the ways we drive ourselves a bit bonkers with busyness and buying. The bustling holiday season in America begins with a pause…to give thanks.

 

I used to think gratitude was a feeling that occurred if I was lucky, something that would happen to me. Today I do my best to cultivate it. It’s an essential component of my inner garden, and when I neglect gratitude, the deficiency of it becomes evident pretty quickly in other areas.

When I notice more bad moods, negativity, anger or despair, I start working gratitude back into the soil.

Studies have shown positive effects of gratitude on mental and physical health including better sleep, decreased anxiety + depression, even reduced inflammation.

How to Cultivate Gratitude

Writing a daily gratitude list is a great way to cultivate an “attitude of gratitude”. Try it for a week, a month, or a year. Write one or three or ten things. Scan your day for reasons to be grateful. If you’ve had a tough one, dig a little deeper. Name something you normally take for granted. If your legs have carried you around all day, decide to be grateful for it. If your children came home from school today, name it a blessing.

Ninja move? See if you can feel grateful even for something “bad” in your life. 

A friend recently wrote an essay that was published in American Theatre magazine, and something he wrote totally shifted my perspective:

“If you’re fortunate enough on this career path, you may get the opportunity to experience levels of rejection you had never dreamed possible.”

Before the pandemic I was fortunate enough to get verrrry close to getting cast in several dream shows. I no longer cry at the thought of those losses, but the heart still twinges at times. Reading my friend’s words this week reminded me that I get to choose to be grateful for those missed opportunities. They remind me that I’ve been at the top of my game.

 

What do you choose to be grateful for today?

What might a daily gratitude practice do for you? I’m opening the comments on this post to all of my subscribers, paid and free. I’d love for you to share your gratitude with me!

Happy Thanksgiving. May you have rest, joy, laughter, and comfort. 🧡