How to Practice Gratitude This Thanksgiving – Guest Post By Riyah Speaks

I would like to welcome guest blogger: Riyah Speaks Take a moment to read as she shares on the topic: “How to Practice Gratitude This Thanksgiving.”

As we approach another holiday season this year, we’re reminded to be thankful for what we have, especially as we get closer to Thanksgiving. Yet, we’re also taught how to be grateful and appreciate the more minor things in life.

Thanksgiving, it’s in the name. It’s a time where we spend time with our loved ones and give
thanks for everything we have in our lives. However, being thankful is not all you should be on
this heartwarming holiday. Thanksgiving provides the perfect opportunity for everyone to learn
about gratitude and practice it throughout this season. In this post, I will discuss how to practice gratitude on Thanksgiving and why it’s crucial.

GRATITUDE VS THANKFULNESS

A lot of us use the words gratitude and thankful interchangeably and with good reason. The
definitions of these two words are very similar and might mean the same thing to some. But,
before we go into the different ways you can practice gratitude this Thanksgiving, we first need
to understand the difference between gratitude and thankfulness.

Gratitude is a noun that describes the act of showing or feeling appreciation or kindness for
something done or received. For example, we can express gratitude for someone who held the
door open for us by saying thank you or giving them money. With gratitude, you take the time to
appreciate everything you take for granted, like having a home-cooked meal or going to school
every day.

Thankfulness, on the other hand, is different. Thankful is an adjective that describes someone
who feels relieved or pleased. You can feel thankful for almost anything, including when you
receive something. However, you cannot feel grateful. You can be grateful.

Now that you understand the difference between gratitude and thankfulness let’s talk about the
5 ways you can practice gratitude this Thanksgiving.

Write In A Gratitude Journal

Writing in a gratitude journal is one of my favorite ways to express gratitude. A gratitude journal
is a journal dedicated to everything you’re thankful for. Some people use guided prompts or
write freely. Maintaining a gratitude journal is simple and doesn’t require a lot of hard work. All
you need is a pen, notebook, and a scheduled time for when you want to jot down these
thoughts.

Focus On The Little Moments

Do you ever feel like life is rushing past you? Me too. Sometimes, when your schedule becomes
hectic with school, work, and life situations, we forget to slow down and take in the smaller
moments life offers. So if you want to learn how to be more grateful this Thanksgiving season,
this is definitely a great place to start. It’s important to find joy in the simple moments.

Create A Gratitude Jar

Gratitude jars are great for keeping track of everything you’re grateful for throughout the year
and as a pick-me-up. You can create a basic gratitude jar using a mason jar or shoebox and
then start adding everything you’re grateful for on a small piece of paper. Then, whenever you
feel down, you can read one of these slips into the jar or box.

Pray or Meditate

Many people find prayer and meditation to be excellent sources for practicing gratitude. Taking a few moments out of your day to acknowledge the smaller things happening around you can boost your mood and make a significant difference in how your days go.

Send Thank You Notes

If you forgot to say thanks for something someone gave you or did this year, then a handwritten
thank you note is perfect for expressing that gratitude. Plus, it can be just as meaningful as
saying it in person.

Why Is Gratitude Important?

Practicing gratitude allows us to show our appreciation for the more minor things in life and the
things we receive from others. It’s important to practice gratitude because it helps to calm the
mind and the soul. In addition, many health benefits come with practicing daily gratitude, such
as improving your physical well-being, decreasing stress, lowering chances of suffering from
mental health illnesses, and boosting your spiritual and mental strength.

There are many ways you can incorporate gratitude into your life? Which one is your favorite?
Let me know in the comments. Thank you Riyah Speaks for sharing such an encouraging message in this guest post blog especially during this Thanksgiving season.

Seriah Sargenton
FOUNDER
Riyah Speaks
-riyahspeaks.com
-info@riyahspeaks.com

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