Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because it is all about appreciating the little things in life that you are grateful for. I love gathering with all of my family to indulge in delicious home cooked meals at the dinner table, playing various board games together while we share laughs, and afterwards finally enjoying some delicious chocolate cream pie my dad and I had made together. After a perfect day like this, gratitude is the easiest practice on Earth.
However, a lot of the time, it can be hard to keep gratitude as a consistency in your life. It is just too easy to focus on the setbacks that inevitably build up over time, from the endless school assignments to the shorter and colder days looming over us. There are simply too many obstacles that can make us forget about what we truly value in our lives. So, let’s talk about what the art of practicing gratitude regularly really looks like.
The nature of gratitude involves recognizing the value of what you have and appreciating the various sources of goodness in your life. Certain things are obvious — your family and friends, hobbies you love, your passions, and so on. Appreciating such prominent aspects of your life is simple. The true art comes in acknowledging the beauty of little things that we may not always think about, such as that yummy breakfast you had the other morning, or the particularly good night’s sleep you had recently. It’s the little things that can make the greatest difference.
I started journaling recently, and for learning to embrace gratitude more, it has been an absolute game changer. At the end of each entry, I list some things that I’m feeling thankful for at that moment. It can be something as big as having the privilege to go to college and pursue a higher education, or something as small as a funny TikTok that made me laugh earlier that day. Creating a regular habit of finding fulfillment in everything, no matter how small or large, is essential.
Another key to practicing gratitude consistently is being genuinely mindful about it. When you think about the various things you’re thankful for in your life, ask yourself what it is that makes you so grateful for it. Think about how your life would be different without it. You can also take your gratitude a step further by outwardly expressing it. Rather than just thinking about how thankful you are for your friends and family, tell them! This can make such an extreme difference and can also encourage others to practice gratitude more themselves.
Thanksgiving is a vital time of year to reflect on everything in your life you are grateful for. However, in order to make gratitude a truly meaningful practice, consistency is key. Regardless of what method you decide to use to acknowledge what you are thankful for every day, making sure to set aside time to practice it daily is the ultimate way to live a happier life.