We are now in the heart of autumn as we have the pumpkin pie, warm apple cider and butternut squash to enjoy. It’s the time when leaves are changing into beautiful colors and disappearing as we prepare for the transition into winter. This is the time when we can observe and take in the beautiful fall scenery all around us.
Thanksgiving is also approaching which is the perfect time to remind ourselves of what we are grateful for. A good time to reflect on our accomplishments over the past seasons as well as the challenges and lessons we’ve learned along the way. Some people who have difficulty with this may get into a cycle of complaining which can become a bad habit and cause us to feel stuck.
It it very important to feel and express gratitude every day. It helps us to stay humble, think of others with compassion and just be present. It helps us to stay open to positive experiences, make life more meaningful and feel joy in our lives. Thanksgiving is a good reminder of what we need to do year-round.
How do you show gratitude?
There are many “gratitude exercises” we can do in order to keep ourselves positively aligned. Some people use daily prayer to keep themselves motivated and positive. This could be as simple as looking out the window each morning to watch the birds or look at the sky to feel connected with nature. Making journal entries with at least one thing that is appreciated every day can dramatically improve your outlook. Make sure you keep it simple and realistic to feel real improvements.
Surround yourself with people who appreciate you and are supportive of you as well as your goals. Finally, don’t forget to pay it forward. Lend a hand to others when you can. Be kind to people walking by. By honoring others and the earth we also honor ourselves. By being in a state of gratitude we help our mental health as well as our outlook to be much more positive.