Give thanks on Thanksgiving

By Julie Jordan
Published November 21, 2018

Happiness is something we all want, but often, it alludes us. Research shows that one of the best ways to be happy is to be grateful. And Thanksgiving is the perfect time to begin.  

Gratitude forces us to focus on things and people outside of ourselves that make us happy right now, not things we only hope for. According to the University of California at Berkeley, writing a letter of gratitude to someone, for example, whether you send it or not, makes us happier and less depressed, not only momentarily, but over an extended period of time. It’s believed that this one act helps you become more thankful in your daily life, so you look for ways to be grateful, rather than the opposite. This makes you more satisfied and happier, longer.

Furthermore, Harvard Health reports that being thankful grows stronger with use and practice, and those who write about gratitude have fewer visits to the doctor.

This year, as you celebrate Thanksgiving with family and friends, remember the benefits of giving thanks. Feast not just on food but happiness and health. Here are some tips for cultivating gratitude during the holiday:  

• Write thank-you notes. One way to be thankful is by thanking someone specifically. Why not ask your family and friends to write a note thanking someone else at the table? Exchange cards, and read them aloud to each other.
• Start a gratitude journal. Each family member or friend around the table writes down all the things they are thankful for on Thanksgiving, and this becomes the first page to their gratitude journal. Each person can share what they are most thankful for.
• Count your blessings. This is usually a weekly activity where you write down three to five things you are grateful for. But on Thanksgiving, each person gathered can write their blessings and share them. The more specific, remembering how the blessing made you feel, the better.
• Pray thankfully. Prayer is a great way for those who are religious to gain the benefits of gratitude. During Thanksgiving, allowing each person to contribute one simple thing they are grateful for during prayer, will help build thankful (and happier) hearts.

Other methods for cultivating gratitude are:

• Meditation. Focus on the present moment without judgement, then focus on what you’re thankful for. Try simple pleasures like warmth or a pleasant sound.
• Thanking someone mentally. If you don’t have time to write, mentally thank the person who did something kind for you.

One day of giving thanks may be the start to improving your happiness and health for life.