For those who participated in the 7 Day Gratitude Challenge, this is the last blog lesson for that mini-challenge, and we’ve covered quite a bit of information.  You’ve learned why acknowledging, embracing and expressing gratitude is so important. You’ve also learned a few specific ways to begin a practice of gratitude in your own life. I’d like to expand on that as we end our challenge to provide you with a more in-depth list of helpful tips to tap into the power of being grateful. You can use these ideas as you move forward in creating your own routine.  Take a Gratitude Walk Going for a walk is a great…

You’re tired and feeling a little “blah.” You are thinking about all the things you must get done before calling it a day. You decided to stop by the mailbox-something you don’t do every day because more than likely, it’s filled with a bunch of junk mail. Like most of us, you stand there mindlessly sifting through advertisements, coupons, life insurance offers, credit card applications, and something stops you. Like a foreign object, you stare at it suspiciously.  You look carefully at the front and then slowly flip it over and look at the back. “It’s a card of some sort,” you think to yourself. “Why would ‘so and so’…

Are you still on the fence about starting a practice of gratitude for yourself? I’d like to issue you a simple challenge.  Just for today, find just one random thing in your environment to be grateful for. This is a low-stakes activity that can be a great way to jumpstart your pursuit of gratitude.  Keep reading, and I’ll show you just what I mean.  What to Look For It’s easy, really. You can look for anything within your daily routine that inspires you.  There are things to be grateful for, even on the difficult days. In fact, it’s even more impactful when you discover little rays of light in the…

Occasionally, we find ourselves not in the best of moods. There’s nothing wrong with being a little melancholy sometimes.  It happens. Ironically, this is considered “the most wonderful time of the year,” but every one doesn’t feel that way. Some people suffer from what is called the Holiday Blues. Some people tend to be more stressed, anxious, lonely, and depressed between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day (psychologytoday.com). So let’s tackle these emotions before they take a toll on you and ruin your holidays and your future by misleading you to believe there’s nothing to be grateful for. First take into consideration these suggestions from the Mayo Clinic website: Acknowledge your…

There have been many instances where I’ve used journal writing to help me get through tough times and to develop a more positive mindset. I can recall a time when my husband and I were stuck with a mortgage and paying rent for an apartment. The sale of our house fell through the day of closing. That was a tough time for us financially which put a toll on our marriage. I felt guilty because it was my idea to sell our house, and I was angry because the couple selfishly decided they didn’t want to purchase the house at the very last moment. As you can imagine, it was…

Oh my goodness! Sometimes life can be so hectic; we don’t know if we’re coming or going. There aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done and keep our sanity. So how dare I suggest that you take a few minutes at the beginning and end of your day to practice gratitude? “Who has time for that?” Believe it or not, you do. One really easy way to get started on a gratitude practice is to make a habit of counting your blessings both morning and night. You don’t even have to write them down, as in a gratitude journal, if that seems too overwhelming.  Simply taking a…

You may be thinking “Who doesn’t know what gratitude is?” And I would say, “Probably no one.” “So, why do a 7 Day Gratitude Challenge?” Not knowing the answer to that question is the very reason you should do the challenge. A little bit of gratitude goes a long way. Gratitude can be simply broken down to appreciating the good things in your life. It doesn’t always seem simple, though. When things are hectic or stressful, finding the silver lining can be…well- challenging.  However, learning how to embrace gratitude can significantly boost your happiness. Likewise, being grateful offers a host of other benefits you’re probably not aware of, unless you…