Gratitude

Building a practice that focuses on gratitude can enhance your experience of life and shift the balance of your attitude towards the positive no matter what your circumstances. Like anything, it takes practice: repeated actions, not just good intentions. This challenge offers a chance to build mental and emotional health, a key part of building deep resilience in the face of all of life’s challenges.

Habit:
Count your blessings

Daily:
Appreciate something you have (necessities or extras!)
Express sincere gratitude

To Do:
Write a heartfelt thank-you card (got a gift recently?)
Write a letter of gratitude (Thank someone who has done something that really matters to you. You don’t have to mail the letter–this is for you.)
Give a meaningful gift

Reflection:
This month’s challenge meant a lot to me, and inspired me to continue the practice of expressing sincere gratitude every day since. This practice has really helped me focus on the positive, and appreciate all the little things that the people around me do well. When left to my own devices, I admit, I tend to focus instead on all of the things around me that aren’t getting done, whether by my efforts or the efforts of my intimates. Frustration abounds. What a blessing to find a path away from that quagmire!