3 Minutes of Thankfulness
Use this gratitude exercise to kickstart your Thanksgiving
We all know Thanksgiving can be stressful. Whether it’s traveling, the cost of hosting lots of people at your house, or not being able to spend the day with people you love or at the place you prefer. What’s meant to be a day full of thankfulness and gratitude can sometimes get clouded with other aspects of life.
We’re here to help with that.
We’re challenging you to put pen to paper and really, truly practice some gratitude. This three-minute exercise will give you a chance to reconnect with yourself and appreciate what you have — during Thanksgiving or whenever you need it most.
1. What are three things you’re grateful for?
We’re starting out easy - just list three things. This is the perfect time to reflect on the things that you value but tend to take for granted. Maybe it’s something small — you’re grateful that you don’t have to set an alarm over the weekend. Or it could be something big — you’re just grateful to be alive.
2. Who are three people you’re thankful for?
These can be past teachers, friends, family members, or even just a stranger who did something nice. Write down their names and think about how they made a difference in your life. Consider reaching out to them this week to let them know you appreciate them.
3. What are three things that you appreciate about yourself?
Alright, this is an important one. When we think of gratitude, you may immediately think of other people or other things. But this one is all about you, and it’s here to remind you to be thankful for your strengths, abilities, and all of your accomplishments.
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The goal is to finish the exercise and really feel a difference. Let that feeling wash over you. Once it’s all written down, it can serve as a constant reminder, even during the frantic nature of Thanksgiving. When you give yourself a few minutes to think about it, there’s a lot to be grateful for.