November is finally here! Department stores are already decorating for the holiday season and Starbucks has already released its seasonal selection of beverages. While I’m the first person to start listening to Christmas music far before December rolls around, Thanksgiving is only a week away! With so much that has happened over these past two years, shifting to an attitude focused on gratitude seems almost imperative when heading into this holiday season. So before we all head off to family gatherings or Friendsgivings, here are three actionable ways to grow feelings of gratitude that are sure to last far beyond these next few months:
- HandWrite a letter to someone you admire
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While this may seem like something straight out of Pinterest, writing a letter to someone you are grateful for is an amazing way to recognize how closely connected you are with other people. You could write to loved ones, great friends, fictional characters, historical role models or anyone else you feel has made a significant impact in your life. This not only allows us to openly show appreciation for those in our lives but it also provides a way for us to look inward and thank everyone who has contributed to who you currently are today. This habit is great to do once a week or once every few weeks and it’s a powerful reminder for us to thank people who are currently making our lives that much better.
- Journal three random things you are grateful for
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Although there are many variations on how you could journal for gratitude, this is probably the most reasonable and easy habit to incorporate into our busy schedules. This could range from being thankful for the weather or the fact that you were able to snooze three times and still make it to your class on time. Whatever it may be, being grateful for the seemingly insignificant events in our lives is sure to grow our appreciation for little moments. This exercise helps us revisit joyful moments in our day even if things didn’t exactly turn out the way that we hoped that they would.
- Volunteer with one of your school’s public service organizations!
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As an undergraduate student, sign-up flyers for clubs and organizations are practically everywhere you look. Even if you are someone who commutes from home, chances are that you’ve seen a few interesting clubs on Instagram or Facebook! By signing up for a public service organization, we are not only bettering our own community but giving back from a place of immense gratitude and recognition of our privilege. While every individual is different and this varies across organizations, the fact that we are in a position to volunteer our time is something that grants warm-hearted thankfulness.
With the quarter almost coming to a close and the holiday season starting, this is an insanely busy time of the year! So I hope that these easy, low-pressure forms of growing our gratitude help create a more positive perspective that helps all of the relationships around us. Please remember that it is not selfish to be grateful for your own efforts or even just your own presence! Have a great beginning to your holiday season!