We’ve all heard the phrase, “be grateful.” But what is gratitude? According to the American Psychological Association, gratitude is “a sense of thankfulness and happiness in response to receiving a gift, either a tangible benefit (e.g., a present, a favor) given by someone or a fortunate happenstance (e.g., a beautiful day).” You can think of gratitude as being kind of like appreciation.
Do you regularly practice gratitude in your daily life? Gratitude doesn’t have to be something you save for big occasions. It could be enjoying the warmth you get from drinking a hot cup of coffee outside on a crisp fall day or feeling the length in your limbs after a yoga class.
There are lots of benefits to practicing gratitude. You might experience:
- Less stress and anxiety
- More joyful mood
- Increased optimism
- Better sleep
- Lower blood pressure
This season, we’re inviting you to join our seven-day gratitude challenge. After you complete the seven-day challenge, can you keep these practices going?
Day 1: Write down three things you’re grateful for; why are you grateful? How did those things make you feel?
Day 2: Reflect on what made you smile today. Is it something you can experience again tomorrow?
Day 3: Name two things you’ve taken for granted today, and think about why you took them for granted.
Day 4: Open the door for someone—and see how it makes them smile.
Day 5: Go for a walk in the sunshine. Find something in every color of the rainbow on your walk.
Day 6: Donate old or unused clothing. Your donation could be exactly what someone else needs to get by.
Day 7: Listen to your favorite song. Why is it your favorite? Can you share it with a friend or a loved one?