Take Time to Give Thanks

Take Time to Give Thanks

Thankfulness is something we tend to reflect on during the holidays, obviously giving it the most attention on Thanksgiving. While the holidays are a great time to be purposeful in giving thanks, we would all benefit from making thankfulness a part of each and every day. A recent article I read only seems to bolster this perspective. Belle Cooper, at the Huffington Post, recently wrote an article titled, "Ten Simple Things You Can Do Today That Will Make You Happier, Backed By Science”. Number ten on her list was practicing gratitude. Citing two research studies she noted that practicing gratitude was likely to increase one’s positive affect, life satisfaction, and interpersonal relationships. In addition, Ann Voskamp, author of “One Thousand Gifts,” wrote a book about the importance of giving thanks and her journey of learning to count her blessings. She goes so far as to say that the simple act of counting your blessings “is guaranteed to change your life.”

Inspired by resources such as these, as well as by the thankful spirit of a close friend, one year ago I decided to create a thankfulness jar. It was nothing spectacular, just an old glass jar I had lying around that I decided to fill with notes of thankfulness. Each night before going to bed I would write down the various things, big or small, that I had to be thankful for throughout the day. I would then fold up the paper, slip it into the jar, and go to sleep with thoughts of thankfulness on my mind.

Did it change my life? 

I’m not sure I can say that it did, but it certainly changed my perspective and helped to cultivate a spirit of contentment and thankfulness within me. It helped to draw my focus away from life’s disappointments and towards the things I might have otherwise taken for granted.  

Dietrich Bonhoeffer has been quoted saying, "In ordinary life we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give, and it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich."

In order to embrace the perspective that our lives are truly “rich,” we need to incorporate gratitude into the most ordinary of days. There is no right or wrong way to practice thankfulness but sometimes having a specific way that it becomes part of your routine is helpful. 

Here are some practical ideas…

• Thankfulness Journal/Letters
• Jar of Thanks (Make it your own!)
• Thankfulness Board (Post-it Notes or 3x5 Cards on a bulletin board)
• Take pictures throughout your day of things you're thankful for. Save it on your computer for a later project or print and display them as daily reminders.

Taking time to be thankful for the things you’ve been given only seems to multiply the blessings. Why not give it a try?

What are you thankful for?