Oftentimes we get so caught up in the stress of our jobs, classwork, and social lives that we forget to express gratitude for many of the great things that we experience. We may also experience bothersome things that turn out to be blessings in disguise, so it’s always good to reflect.
Since Thanksgiving is during the month of November and people use this time to express who and what they are thankful for, I’ve compiled a list of writing prompts that will help you express gratitude!
- Who are you most grateful for in your life and why?
This prompt is great because we can express our thankfulness for someone in our life. You can be grateful for a parent, friend, sibling, teacher, coworker, coach, or anyone else that you feel has been a blessing in your life.
- What experiences (good and bad) from this past year are you grateful for?
This year has been complicated for many of us due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and while there may have been some stressful times, there may have also been good, memorable moments. Maybe you ended a toxic relationship and it helped you find yourself, or you had more free time and were able to try a new hobby. This is a great time to go through your camera roll and then write and reflect on some amazing memories that you have made throughout the year.
- What accomplishment(s) this year are you most proud of?
With so many unprecedented things happening and an increase in stress, it’s important to give yourself credit for the things that you did accomplish. Did you get a promotion, finish watching a new show, or put yourself out there more? Think of some things that you are proud of yourself for doing.
- Describe a moment when someone helped you in a thoughtful way and how you appreciate their actions.
This can be someone who held a door for you or invited you to an event, and maybe it made you feel included and grateful. Sometimes people do little things for us everyday that we don’t realize can mean so much, so try to think of something and express how it made you feel in the moment.
- How can you express more gratitude in 2022?
By showing or expressing the ways we are thankful for the people and things in our lives, we create a positive mindset and self-reflect. There are many things that we can do to express gratitude and after such a stressful time this past year, it’s important that we express and appreciate some of the things that we have. You could do this by journaling every week and talking about what you are thankful for, by inviting someone out to dinner as a thank you, or making it a habit to pay it forward when grabbing Starbucks or Dunkin. The possibilities are endless.