Practicing gratitude daily is something that I have tried to implement not only in my own life, but in the days of my clients at the therapeutic day program I work at !
The adult group of clients I work with head to the forest for my forest program each day for 30 minutes, and we start each session with a gratitude circle. My clients are encouraged to share one thing that makes you happy that day, and I try to encourage it even if they are having a hard day. The thought behind it is even the tiniest thing can be shared as something you’re grateful for, and since we’re outside all day I suggest gratitude for the sunshine, the warmer weather etc. Being able to find one tiny thing to smile at each day can be hard but that tiny glimmer of hope when you’re feeling low.
Recently, I’ve heard people in my personal life make comments that they can’t have a gratitude practice because they are not feeling grateful due to situations in their life. I personally have the opposite opinion of gratitude in the sense that in the hardest time of your life or the times where you feel the least grateful is when you really would benefit from a gratitude practice. For me, I view gratitude as a coping strategy that is important to practice in order to feel connected to.
If you are unaware of how to implement a coping strategy; when I am teaching a client about deep breathing or building a leisure strategy that helps with their mental health, etc., it’s important to introduce this when you are somewhat emotionally regulated and then practice it very regularly in order for it to become a more natural habit in your life. So in terms of gratitude, you can take each day one step at a time. Sometimes your gratitude might look like being grateful for a friend or an amazing adventure that you went on! On other days when things are not as wonderful, your choice of gratitude might be that the sun came out, you had a cup of coffee this morning or you had an apple for lunch that was really sweet. It’s important not to put too much pressure on what the content of your gratitude is for the day, but how it makes you feel.
One additional piece that I think is important to remember, is that sometimes finding something you are grateful for takes a lot of energy. When I run my gratitude circle with my adult client, as I mentioned before, I allow my client to skip their turn and then share at the end of everyone else’s turn in order to give them more time to think. So if you go to think of what you’re grateful for today and it takes longer than one second that is OK! Take your time and think of something that gave you a glimmer of joy, and then celebrate yourself for putting in that effort to support your well-being!
Let’s practice gratitude together today! Feel free to share in the comments your 5 things that bring you happiness 🙂
What are 5 everyday things that bring you happiness today?
1. My cats
2. Taking cute photos to create memories
3. Junk journaling!
4. Being out in nature
5. Spending time with my sister
Remember that gratitude is a practice and sometimes it will be easy and sometimes it will be more of a challenge, but you are worth the effort!
If you would like to share your gratitude in the comments below, I would love to hear the things that bring you joy! Sometimes can inspire other people to feel grateful to🩷
Be Your Own Sunshine 