Happy Thanksgiving, dear Reader. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. People gathering to share food with nurturing and gratitude as the central themes, what’s not to love about that? I appreciate that Thanksgiving has a low commercial aspect. And that is essentially why the culture undervalues this holiday. Shoot! The shops are already playing “Jingle Bells,” and the decorations are screaming for your dollars with those black Friday’s deals. “Whoa. Not so fast,” I want to say. Can’t we linger awhile around giving thanks?
In John Kralik’s 365 Thank Yous, the author discovers that he could not get what he wanted until he was grateful for what he had. And so he began a year of writing thank you notes.
Being grateful offers many rewards. It not only opens the heart with reciprocal energy, it boosts one’s happiness index. Did you know that happiness and gratitude go hand-in-hand? Happy people are more grateful, and folks that express gratitude tend to be happier! Research states that being thankful can boost your “happiness index” by 25%. What’s the “happiness index?” Think of a mood meter based upon your genetic disposition and early family circumstances. Whatever details influence your ability to enjoy life are involved to affect your baseline for happiness. These elements make up 40%, leaving us a large margin for improvement! -Sonja Lyubomirsky, The How of Happiness.
Thanksgiving is a perfect opportunity to boost our mood meters. Good food with friends and family- sounds like the most natural setting to show appreciation and give thanks. If the complimentary words of thanks don’t come easily, then write them down. Whatever way is most comfortable for you to say thank you, do that. Remember, “Silent gratitude (REALLY) isn’t much use to anyone.”
Here are a few “thankfulness-themed guided meditations” that I found in this week’s DONUT- The Thankfulness Issue. Each one offers a gentle centering for experiencing the feeling of gratitude on a visceral level. Helps one to get into a “grateful vibe.”
I Choose to Feel Grateful Meditation (10 minutes)
Guided Mindfulness Meditation – Thankful Every Day (20 minutes)
Gratitude Meditation (5 minutes)
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…Before you go, I want to thank you, my dear Subscribers for your loyalty and support of this website. Special thanks to those of you who send me articles, clippings, and links to interesting and valuable letter-related topics. You enrich my world and inspire my posts. Added thanks to the newcomers…I am always wowed to learn my letter writing musings can still attract a growing audience.
From my heart to yours, Happy Thanksgiving. –Carol
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The How of Happiness, A New Approach to Getting the Life You Want. Sonja Lyubomirsky. Penguin Books, 2007.
Authentic Happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential for Lasting Fulfillment. Martin E. Seligman. Free Press,2004.
https://www.pursuit-of-happiness.org/history-of-happiness/barb-fredrickson/