Gratitude in Practice

Being grateful is an act, a process. It is something you chose versus something that happens to you. As with everything in life, gratitude requires practice to implement it into our daily lives.

Gratitude Practice Exercise

Let’s try a mental strategy that you can incorporate into your daily life to increase gratitude and optimism.

Step One

We invite you to begin by bringing to mind one thing you are grateful for. It could be a special place or object, a pet, an event that happened, or something you noticed that you appreciated, such as the blossoms on a tree.

Step Two

Now we invite you to bring to mind one place you are grateful for. It could be a corner in your home, the view out your window, or a park nearby.

Step Three

Now we invite you to think of one person who you are thankful for. It could be someone who brings you joy, provides support or mentorship, or simply makes you laugh! You may actually see the person, see a photo of the person, or notice an object that reminds you of the person. Hold that person in mind, and notice how you feel.

Step Four

Consider how you might share your gratitude for this person!

*Sharing gratitude has dual benefits:

*It creates a sense of happiness in the person hearing about your gratitude.

*It releases the well-being neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine in your brain.