Post-Thanksgiving Reflection: How to Practice Gratitude Every Day

It felt good to sit around the dining room table on Thanksgiving, sharing what we are grateful for with family and friends. However, by the time we got to dessert the touching conversation was somewhat forgotten. This year, why not allow this sentiment to truly make a difference in your life? Why not commit to fully living every day “in gratitude”?

Brene Brown, an author, public speaker and researcher, has studied the connection between gratitude and joy. She found that people are not grateful because they are happy, but happy because they are grateful.

Most of us think we can simply commit ourselves to acknowledging our appreciation for all that we have in our lives. Yet research shows that people who benefit most from this positive way of thinking are the ones who consciously practice gratitude. An easy way to accomplish this is to keep a gratitude journal.

Be mindful throughout the day whenever something happens that you feel grateful for. It can be something as small as having a moment to enjoy a good cup of coffee, or as big as finding out that you are going to become a mother. Before you go to sleep or first thing in the morning, write these thoughts down in a journal that you keep beside your bed.

People who consciously enjoy an “attitude of gratitude” improve their physical and psychological health, sleep better and increase their resilience and self-esteem. In her book Thrive, Arianna Huffington writes “Gratitude works its magic by serving as an antidote to negative emotions. It’s like white blood cells for the soul, protecting us from cynicism, entitlement, anger, and resignation.” Committing to recording your daily thoughts of gratitude in a journal does not require much time or effort, but the benefits can be truly life-changing.

Jocelyn Sokol, CPCC, is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach, dedicated to empowering women and supporting them while navigating all transitions in their lives. You can reach her at her private practice at loveyourlifecoaching.net. Jocelyn is also passionate about being a maternity transition coach, hired by companies to support their female employees during this exciting yet challenging time. To learn more, please see her website at workbabywork.com.

Tags: Arianna Huffington, Gratitude, Jocelyn Sokol, Life Coach, rosie pope, thanksgiving