Gratitude Moment
Our brains are geared to notice the negative or potential dangers in our environment to keep us safe. It can be helpful to intentionally notice and be grateful for the positive elements in our day to shift the balance towards optimism.
This activity can assist us in having a generally positive outlook to become a lifelong mentally healthy habit. So, we must train our brains to notice the positive things, often small, in our everyday lives to build happiness.
Today’s Wellness Wednesday post reminds us how to find thankfulness and gratitude in small things, even during a challenge.
Try this:
As a class, group or family watch the following video about gratitude and how we can all find something to be thankful for:
Kid President’s 25 Reasons To Be Thankful! (3:46)
Kid President’s 25 Reasons To Be Thankful! (3:46)
- Think about somebody or something you love, or something wonderful that happened to you today (big or small). Sometimes the small things in life give us the most joy because they calm us down from the hard things we are thinking about and trying to figure out.
- Write or draw about it.
- Take three soft, slow, mindful breaths and feel thankful.
- Keep your gratitude message or drawing beside your bed. Look at it again when you go to sleep and wake up. Feel free to add to it. It’s good to remind you of the good things in your life.
Since completing this activity, how do you feel? Is this something you would do again, discipline your mind to think of the positive things in life?
Connecting to Our Faith
Give thanks to the God of heaven, For His lovingkindness (graciousness, mercy, compassion) endures forever. – Psalm 136:26
Further Learning
All ages: YouTube: Shawn Achor – The Happiness Advantage: Linking Positive Brains to Performance (12:29)
Children’s Book:
The Book of Awesome by Neil Pasricha
