Tis the Season

Tis the season… to be grateful

Now I know you’ve all heard of the importance of gratitude… especially at this time of year. And I know gratitude is a bit of a “trendy” idea right now, but I also believe that it can make a huge impact on your mindset. And as a mental health professional (who is especially interested in cognitive psych) I am constantly analyzing my own thoughts, as well as how they impact my emotions. Looking on the bright side is more than just a cliche. I believe choosing to focus on the positive over and over can change the course of your day. Or even your life.

Over the past couple of years I have been thinking a lot about gratitude, and I have tried a few different ways to practice daily. I’ve tried the simple gratitude journal. Josh and I do gratitude challenges through the month of November (I’m grateful he’s sweet enough to go along with all my cheesy ideas haha). I also teach gratitude regularly to my students. But earlier this year I started a new challenge by creating a gratitude list on my phone. It was pretty easy to create. Basically, every time I caught myself experiencing pure joy… I would soak in the moment. And then add it to my list. About a year later, I’ve learned a few things.

I’ve realized that recognizing gratitude is really just the first step. Taking a moment each day to stop and think about what I was grateful for was a beneficial change in perspective, but what I really wanted was to be more present in the moment. To recognize my appreciation as I am living it. At the end of the night it’s great to think about how much fun I had catching up with a friend over drinks, but I want to be better at feeling that gratitude as I am sitting there with them.

Another thing I learned was that while I was grateful for the big things, I was even more grateful for the little things. While reading my list I realized that it was full of tiny, non miraculous, everyday happenings. Campfires, sunsets, coffee, rain, going for walks, talking with Josh… I’m not talking about once in a lifetime experiences. I was most grateful for the small things I was experiencing everyday.

Creating this gratitude list not only taught me to pay attention, but it was also a great opportunity for an as needed positivity boost. Whenever I am having a bad day, I read my list and try to remember all the great things I have going for me. Now I know I’m not perfect. It’s impossible to have a gratitude mindset ALL of the time. There have been many times that I forgot about my list for days or even weeks at a time. But coming back to it always has a centering type of feel. So I encourage any of you who took the time to read this to start your own gratitude project! (hint hint: it’s almost the new year!) If you stick with it, I promise you will love your new way of thinking. Have a great holiday everyone! :)