November Is Gratitude Month

It is hard to believe that Thanksgiving is just around the corner. I love how it is such a great happiness holiday because it encourages us to step back from our hectic lives and say thank you for what we have.

My goal is for all of you to reach into your happiness toolkit and grab some gratitude every single day with your children-not just on Thanksgiving.

How Gratitude Helps

Throughout my battle with anxiety, I learned how two simple words-Thank You-can improve our health, reduce stress, and make us feel happier overall. It is one of the easiest tools we have to combat stress.

It is amazing how we can change our perspective on life in less than 5 minutes a day. My daily gratitude practice has truly calmed me down and allowed me to appreciate what I have, and not dwell on negativity and fears. When I am going through a rough time, I work very hard to find the positives and be grateful for them.

My Family’s Gratitude Practice

The most important stress buster that I added to my life was introducing a gratitude prayer with my children every night as part of their bedtime routine. I first tried writing in a gratitude journal, but found it much more effective to express gratitude out loud with my children. We go around the room and each say one thing we are thankful for that day and one thing we hope for in the future.

It is such a special time we share together, and has become a key part of our lives. If I am not home to put them to bed, they ask my husband or their grandparents to do the prayer with them. I love this practice because it gives me a chance to think about gratitude everyday, even if I don’t always say everything I am thinking out loud for my children to hear. And when you do it with your children, they hold you accountable. It is such a beautiful thing when they request it. My children love it so much that they now need to say thank you before they can fall asleep.

Your Challenge

During this month, we will look at the science behind the power of gratitude; explore fun, simple ways we can teach our children how to practice gratitude; and review resources, such as books and apps, that help us express gratitude more easily and effectively.

I challenge all of you to start a gratitude practice with your children. Try it and let us know the changes you see in both yourself and your children.