Dec 17, 2018 Approaching the Holidays with an Attitude of Gratitude

This holiday season, don’t forget to have an attitude of gratitude. It’s easy to get caught up in holiday shopping, gift giving, cookie exchanges and parties this time of year. Pause and take a moment to be grateful – no matter how big or small the things you’re grateful for may be! Expressing gratitude can change our perspective and have a positive impact on our health. Practicing gratitude can help lower blood pressure, enhance sleep, improve mood, strengthen relationships, reduces anxiety and depression, and in turn, encourage others to be grateful.

Remember that every day won’t be perfect, but focusing on what we are grateful for can help extinguish those negative feelings.

Try any one of these techniques to get started:

  • Acknowledge others and thank them for their impact on you.
  • Acknowledge yourself for what you have accomplished and what you’re personally proud of (instead of comparing yourself to others)
  • Tell a friend, significant other or colleague three things you are most grateful for in this moment.
  • Start a gratitude journal and write one thing you are grateful for each day.
  • Sit and meditate for five or ten minutes a day, which will help you pause to reflect on what you have.

Try extending this practice into the New Year on an ongoing basis! Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have Thanksgiving year round?