7 FAVORITE GRATITUDE EXERCISES🦃💪🏽🦃
I can't believe Thanksgiving is here already. This year is whizzing by us. In the midst of all of the hustle and bustle, make sure you really take a minute to breathe. Do it with me now---inhale and exhale. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh. Doesn't that feel good?!
If you dare, MAEVE40 Fitness will double-dog dare you to really be intentional about practicing gratitude. And just like we exercise our bodies to make them healthier, we should exercise gratitude not only at Thanksgiving but throughout the year. We have a lot to be thankful for even in the midst of so much chaos in the world. This list of 7 is certainly not exhaustive but I am really crushing on the 7 exercises Mashable.com shared in this post. I truly believe that we do not have to recreate the wheel on everything and with being thankful, this definitely rings true.
HERE ARE THE TOP 7:
1. Schedule A Gratitude Visit
This gratitude exercise is kind of cool. It is where you identify someone in your past who changed your life for the better. You write them an honest letter describing what they did to help you and how it affected you. If the person lives close by, you can arrange a meeting with them and bring the letter you've written them. But, don't tell them you're bringing the letter. Sweet, right?!
2. Keep a gratitude journal, and make it personal
This gratitude exercise is pretty simple. We are all familiar with journaling and some of us have a love/hate relationship with it---I know I do! But seriously, try this journaling exercise out by specifically naming the people you are grateful for--not objects or events---PEOPLE. Once you're done, you can discuss these memories with them to make it even more impactful. I plan on starting this one this week.
3. Make your own gratitude jar
Do you have any unused mason jars around the house? This one is nifty because you can see the jar and it reminds you of gratitude. The key part of this exercise is placing it somewhere you know you will be at 2X per day. For me, that's by my bedside or in the bathroom. Then, any time you are near the jar and feel that sense of thankfulness, place a small amount of money in it. When the jar is full, donate the money from the jar so it can help others. These are good, right?!
4. Disrupt a stressful moment with a smile
Time with family can be A-MAZING but it can also be super stressful. So, as you take time to be thankful with family or friends, crack that winning smile especially during a stressful moment and envision the people you are thankful for (even if they are working your nerves). You can also picture your favorite foods (which might be on the table so even more to be happy about) or pleasures in your life (keep it clean! ha!).
5. Set a gratitude alarm
If practicing gratitude is tough for you and you only manage to do it every once in a while, set a gratitude alarm. With all of the various forms of mobile devices, Apple watches, iPhone/Android apps, you can make gratitude super easy. When the alarm goes off, take stock of what's happened in the preceding 8 or 24 hours. If you're feeling especially fancy, jot those things down and then look at your list as it grows. You'll be grateful you did.
6. Balance your complaints
This one is HUGE. If you find yourself griping numerous times throughout the day, check your gratitude meter by keeping track of the frequency of your complaints. Through doing this, you can match each complaint with something you were grateful for during that day or week. When you balance these complaints with gratitude moments, you are able to transform your mood.
7. Single out someone who may not always receive thanks
Are there people in your life other than your friends and family who could use a word of thanks from you? That UPS driver who ensures your packages are delivered on time or that doctor who went the extra mile or the dog walker who takes extra special care of your pooch? Take a moment to share with these individuals how grateful you are for them. You'll be glad you did because you will be reminded just how fortunate you really are.
FIND ANY OF THESE GRATITUDE EXERCISES INTRIGUING? SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES WITH EXERCISING GRATITUDE IN THE COMMENTS BELOW.
