If you celebrate Thanksgiving, it’s a time to get together with family and friends and a time to share some laughs and create new memories. Thanksgiving is also a time to be thankful and grateful. But what does that mean? What does that look like? And why is it a good thing?
Here are some ways that you can show gratitude during the holidays.
Benefits to being grateful
Practicing daily gratitude today and everyday has many benefits such as,
- Improves your immune system
- Lowers blood pressure
- Reduces cortisol levels (a stress hormone in the body)
- Reduces aggression
- Reduces stress
- Decreases depression and anxiety
- Improves closeness in your relationships with others.
So, taking the time to be grateful not only comes across as being nice towards others, which is a perk, but also has many health and personal benefits.
Here is a small list of things you can do and say to show you are grateful.
What you can do:
- Put your phone down
- Write a letter saying why you are thankful to have someone in your life
- Write a note to yourself about what you are thankful for this year
- Offer to clean up
- Ask to help make a dish for your family
- Compliment someone when you speak with them
What you can say:
- With family, friends, your partner, or just self-reflection, here are some conversation starters that revolve around being grateful and thankful.
- What is your favorite dish that you learned from your family and why?
- What’s the best thing that happened to you today?
- What memory happened this year that always makes you smile?
- What is something you cannot live without?
- Ask older aunts and uncles, parents or grandparents, how they met?
- Say thank you
- I love you
- I appreciate you
- What does family mean to you?
Taking the time to be present in conversations and to be intentional in how you connect is a way to boost your relationships with people. Take advantage of the opportunity you are given with family and friends this Thanksgiving and get to know them a bit more.
This holiday season I hope you challenge yourself to show gratitude!
By: Priscilla Rodriguez, M.S., LMFT
As Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I help individuals and couples utilize how to be grateful as a way to show appreciation and increase closeness within relationships. Contact me to find out how you can increase gratitude and appreciation in your life.
