Gratitude doesn't have to hang from a tree...
Or be written on the colorful feathers of an adorable turkey.
Or for that matter only be spoken about in the month of November.
It seems like anyone and everyone has a lovely gratitude printable these days that involve writing down what we're grateful for on the feathers around a turkey or the leaves hanging from a "gratitude tree." Now I'm not knocking the gratitude turkeys and gratitude trees. There is nothing wrong with them. But if you're looking for a deeper dive into gratitude that extends beyond turkeys and trees and the weeks around Thanksgiving, then keep reading.
Why is gratitude important?
The research is clear: a consistent gratitude practice increases happiness and reduces stress. It also has positive impacts on physical health, sleep, resilience, self-esteem, and relationships. You can read more about the benefits of gratitude here and here.
Gratitude can help us shift from a glass is half empty to a glass is half full point of view, and this shift can have a dramatic impact on our attitude toward tasks. For example, I don't love to cook. When I catch myself being annoyed about having to cook dinner, I try to take a moment to be grateful for the fresh food I'm able to provide for my family, for the time I have to prepare nutritious meals, for the kitchen I have to cook in, and for the family I have to feed. This doesn't turn me into a cooking fanatic, but it sure goes a long way to making those next 30 minutes in the kitchen a lot more pleasant.
There's a lot about 2020 that isn't so enjoyable, to put it mildly. But if we take stock of all that we do have to be grateful for, our overall outlook improves and we can face challenges with greater resilience.
So what's wrong with gratitude trees and gratitude turkeys?
Nothing! But if you ask your child to name what they are grateful for, the list will probably be fairly predictable: Friends. Family. Pets. Toys. Their house.
Those are all things that are great to be thankful for. They are also things that are easy things to be thankful for. But repeating that same list every time they are asked what they're grateful for doesn't yield the same benefits that they would gain from a deeper practice of gratitude.
The goal for a more meaningful practice of gratitude should be to train our minds to find things to be grateful for no matter the circumstance. This doesn't mean we have to love the circumstance (no one loves Covid-19!), but with practice we can more easily find the silver lining.
Think back over the past 9 months. It's easy to list all the ways that 2020 has been a terrible year. But perhaps it was also the year when you were able to spend more time together as a family. Or the year when you picked up a new hobby. Or the year when you and your family spent more time exploring your neighborhood and the great outdoors. Or the year when you reconnected with old friends over Zoom. Whatever it is, find those bright spots and turn your attention towards them instead of all of the bad.
How can we help our children find the silver lining?
Find a way to make gratitude a regular part of your daily routine. Some families like to take a few minutes at dinner for everyone to share what they're grateful for. Other families enjoy keeping gratitude journals at bedtime. Or you can grab your free printable set of Launchpad for Gratitude Cards!
I have designed these cards to prompt children to consider what they are grateful for that goes beyond the usual culprits.
How to use the Launchpad for Gratitude Cards:
Print the cards double sided so that the front of the cards are on one side and the backs are on the other. Cut out the cards and place them in a gratitude bag or box. If you plan to reuse the cards, consider printing them on cardstock or laminating them.
Each person in the group can either pull one card to respond to or one person can pull a card for everyone to respond to. Try to practice this gratitude ritual at the same time every day. Some families prefer mornings, others dinner time, and still others enjoy this as a bedtime ritual.
Responses can be written on the cards themselves, shared out loud, or written in a gratitude journal.
If responses are written on the cards themselves, consider posting them on a "gratitude wall" for a visual reminder of all that you have to be thankful for.
I'd love to see how you're making gratitude a part of your daily routine. Connect with me on Instagram or Facebook!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
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