With Thanksgiving behind us, I’ve been thinking a lot about gratitude. With Christmas ahead and its pressure to shop, how about being grateful for what we have instead of focusing on what we don’t. Sometimes that’s easier said than done, especially when there’s so much sadness and uncertainty swirling around us in the world.
Shifting to an attitude of gratitude keeps us focused on what we have. I think it also helps us believe in the abundance all around us and pull more of those good things into our lives.
I know I need a reminder every once in a while, so as we rock our way into the holidays, it seems like a good time to share some of my favorite gratitude tips.
7 Ways to Feel More Gratitude
- Take the time to notice and appreciate. Actively look for things to be grateful for. That old friend who was so happy to hear from you when you reached out. A refrigerator full of leftovers so you don’t have to cook all week. The fact that this time around you didn’t get pulled into someone else’s drama.
- Gratitude counts. So count the things you’re grateful for. Write them in a gratitude journal. Or name 3 things you’re grateful for before you fall asleep at night. Or before you get out of bed in the morning. Or both! Somehow naming and numbering helps us feel even more grateful.
- Keep it simple. The gifts. The cooking. The entertaining. The cleaning. It’s hard to find the time for gratitude when you’re running on empty and feeling totally overwhelmed.
- Do you! If keeping it simple over the holidays doesn’t work for you, then go big! Send out Christmas cards with actual stamps. Bake your butt off. Fill your yard with the biggest inflatable snowman you can find. Then take a moment to be grateful for your uniquely wonderful self.
- Be intentional. Make sure your priorities are really your priorities. If not, then maybe it’s time to reinvent them. For instance, these days I’d much rather take a long walk and catch up with friends and family than get all caught up in the holiday hoopla. Just because you’ve always done something one way doesn’t mean you always have to do it that way.
- Tweak your expectations. Nobody’s life is perfect. Everybody’s family has an issue or two. Or twelve. Letting go of those unrealistic fantasies of what the holidays should be, or should look like on Facebook, helps us feel a lot more grateful for all the wonderful things we actually have.
- Share the gratitude. Expressing gratitude strengthens relationships. So the next time someone does something you appreciate, don’t forget to let them know. The gratitude we send out into the world might even boomerang right back to us.
Claire Cook wrote her first book in her minivan when she was 45. At 50, she walked the red carpet at the Hollywood premiere of the romantic comedy movie adaption of Must Love Dogs. She’s now now the New York Times, USA Today and international bestselling author of 23 books. Her books have been translated into 14 languages. She says: “Take it from me, if you have a buried dream, it’s never too late!”
Learn more and subscribe to her newsletter at clairecook.com.
To use an over used statement, Claire Cook “hit the nail on the head”. Thank you for this reminder. I just remembered as I looked up a window as I was reading this and it was missing the traditional wreath. Guess what, that window will remain without that wreath because I am not going up to the attic and retrieve it.
Good for you, Cynthia! I’m sure the window and wreath will be just fine taking a year off, and so will you. I’m grateful the post resonated for you!
Claire,
This is SOOO good! Thank you! I had only one child that I had in mid life and he graduated from high school this year and is now in college. It’s been so strange, not having all of my regular Christmas duties that I had at his school… Trying to readjust all of my “extra time” ..: I love serving, so thank you for these thoughts…