A THANKFUL PERSPECTIVE: 3 Ways to Practice Gratitude

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Happy Thanksgiving Mamas!

Thanks for joining me today for a chat on gratitude just in time for the holidays!

A few months back some friends and I attended the Vintage Market Days of Oklahoma; it’s an outdoor vendor event.  Honestly, I’m not much into vintage and was attending out of curiosity and for the good company of my girlfriends.  I completely respect vintage collectors and those that admire the pieces, but I’ve never gotten into it.  From my perspective ‘vintage’ is a fancy word for ‘other people’s old stuff sold at ridiculous prices’ and I expected to see a bunch of old lace and silver spoons, ha! Regardless of the shopping, I was grateful for the invite and thankful for blossoming friendships. 

When we arrived, there was a combination of vintage and modern vendors.  Some of the merchandise was worn and tattered, but others were beautiful and in good condition.  As I admired the items I began to think about the stories that lie in each piece and the history behind their previous owners.

 I came upon a table made from an old door and I thought about all of the people that would have walked through it. Where had they been? What were their dreams?  Now whoever the new owner was would add to its history with new memories with their family and friends.  Soon I realized that vintage collectors are accumulating treasures from the past and have the awesome opportunity to contribute their own story.  A collection of thankful memories: beautiful.  

As I reflect, I realize that life is like this vintage door…. Full of experiences, good and bad, and each day brings the hope of new possibilities. Our ability to tap into a hopeful and grateful tomorrow, is based on how we view our life’s history.  

We have the option of choosing a thankful perspective.

3 WAYS TO PRACTICE GRATITUDE:

Studies show that some of the happiest people are those who are intentionally grateful. Their emotions are more positive, they maintain healthier relationships, and are even more optimistic about the future. When we are purposeful in identifying and expressing gratitude, we live fuller lives because we walk in a thankful perspective.  

Below are 3 tips to begin living a more thanks giving life today.

1. Gratitude Reflection: There are several ways to spend time in reflection: meditation, prayer, journaling, etc. Reflection allows us an opportunity to gain self-awareness, challenge our thoughts, and reconnect physically, mentally, and spiritually. I recommend that we spend daily time in reflection. For me it helps to reset any negative energy and I make a conscious decision to let go of what I can’t control and focus on what I can. It’s also my time to connect spiritually with God and give thanks for blessings.

2) Gratitude Letter To A Loved One: Writing a letter of appreciation to someone who impacted our lives is a beautiful expression of gratitude. This can be a simple thank you card or an in depth letter. The act of writing the letter places us in a thankful spirit and also invites the recipient to a space of gratitude. I keep a drawer of blank thank you cards to help maintain this as a normal practice.

3) Gratitude Jar: A gratitude jar is a unique way to create a keepsake of things we are thankful for. We can either keep this limited to our personal reflections or include our family, friends, or coworkers in on the fun. This year, my family and I will begin a gratitude jar and include it as an annual tradition! Checkout the link below for some that are available for purchase.

THIS WEEK’S CHALLENGE:

This year’s Thanksgiving may look a bit different for many of us. The CDC recommends that we stay home for the holidays, which means we may miss the company of our loved ones.

This week I challenge you to set aside some time in practice of gratitude. Choose one of the exercises above and apply it to your day. As we focus intently in reflection, our life perspectives will naturally align to a more positive and thanks giving mind set.

APPLICABLE SCRIPTURES:

Philippians 4: 6- 8 & Psalm 100: 1-5

2020 has been a doozy for our nation and the world. We’ve grieved painful and heartbreaking losses and many of us may ask, “What is there to be thankful for in 2020?”  However, we have a choice in how we see this year.  Was there pain? Absolutely, but I promise that no matter how difficult the year was for you, there were glimpses of God’s love along the way. It may take some intention, but there is room for gratitude in each of our stories.

Thank you for joining me for a sharing of REAL LIFE, FROM ONE MOM TO ANOTHER!

Let me know in the comments what gratitude exercises you’ll be practicing this week and have a blessed Thanksgiving!