Week #8: Gratitude
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This week we are going to share some ideas about the benefits of gratitude and some ways to practice it. In this time of heightened anxiety our brains are adapting to the trauma and stress around us. One great way to combat some of the effects of this situation on our brains is to be intentional, maybe even just for a few minutes a day, about how we are processing our surroundings by noticing and being grateful for what is going well.
Right now, many parents are busy beyond what we could have imagined before school closures. Or maybe we have too much downtime. Whatever our situation, one thing that we all share is concern and anxiety about the well-being of loved ones and about the uncertainty of the future. In the midst of this enormous shift, it is easy to lose sight of what we have to be grateful for. Gratitude is about more than saying “thank you.” Gratitude significantly boosts our sense of well-being – studies prove that it doesn’t just make us feel better, it actually lowers overall stress, and boosts our sense of self-worth. In families, making a group practice of gratitude spreads those positive impacts to our whole family.
PS Watch for The Grand Ridge Staff Gratitude video on Friday!
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A Quick Video For Kids About Practicing Gratitude
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An Even Quicker Video For Adults About How To Talk To Your Kids About Gratitude
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Gratitude Activities
Start a Gratitude Journal
You can have one for the family or one for each member of your family. Each day think of 3 things you are grateful for. Write or draw those ideas in the journal. Find a regular time each week to talk about what’s in the journal and what we’re grateful for. A family journal doesn't haven't to be fancy, just a notebook sitting on the table where you eat dinner or somewhere that you will see frequently. Put the date at the top of the page and people can add things as they go about their day or make it part of the dinner conversation to add at least 3 things a day. Individual journals can be as simple as a tiny notebook that they can decorate to as elaborate as a fancy leather-bound journal. There are also several digital versions that can make it really easy since you are likely to have your device with you most of the time and it allows for the easy addition of photos which I find to be super motivational. My personal favorite is the Grateful App.
Make a Gratitude Tree
Grab a few fallen twigs and arrange them in a jar. Use sand or rocks to help stabilize them. Have your children cut out some leaf-shaped pieces of paper, punch a hole in one end, and attach a small loop of string. Keep the leaves in a jar beside the tree along with a pen or crayon. Have your children write something they are grateful for on a leaf and hang it on a twig branch. You can write on multiple leaves at once, or slowly build your tree, adding one gratitude leaf each day. It is beautiful to watch the tree "bloom" as your thoughts of gratitude grow!
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