A lesson we all have learned from 2020 has been to expect the unexpected. However, this does not have to be, and should not be, the only take away from this unprecedented year. If anything, this year gave us a chance to challenge and explore our own dynamic and incredible inner strength. That strength becomes more visible as we think about our blessings, as we practice thanksgiving and share our gratitude.
Recently, I posted onto my Facebook page a simple quote that said, “May your blessings outnumber the autumn leaves”. I was touched by how many individuals messaged me to say, ‘thank you for posting this’. I felt enormous gratitude for doing a simple act. I was told my message ‘was a gentle reminder’, an ‘embrace of warmth’, a ‘needed reminder to count my blessings and to allow gratitude to be a stronger emotion than frustration’. It occurred to me that we need to rebuild a culture of appreciation. Simple reminders about self-care, love and positivity go a long way. Count your blessings and gratitude will blossom.
Here are five recommendations for bringing gratitude more fully into your life. I challenge us all to spend the month of November practicing gratitude.
- Capture the beauty around you. Each day commit to find at least six things that sparked beauty. Whether it is something in nature, an inanimate object, an act of kindness, or a message in a conversation; capture the essences of that beauty. Store it in your heart. Create positive connections. Experience the positive mood, feeling and emotion that beauty brings to your heart and soul.
- Be a great leader. The secret to being a great leader is quite simple. To be a great leader become a better person. When given a choice, act with kindness. Set the example for others to follow. Model the way with love, joy, and gratitude. Inspire gratitude and happiness in others.
- Express appreciation. Make it a point to say, ‘thank you’ and to share an act that shows your gratitude and appreciation. Do not think, “I can do that tomorrow”; do it today. Do it at the moment when the emotion of gratitude enters your heart.
- Count your blessings daily. There are so many ways to reflect on your blessings. You can practice meditation, keep a gratitude journal, commit to count your blessings each night before falling asleep or first thing in the morning as we awake. This simple practice sets a tone for the day and supports mental health and well-being.
- Make gratitude a routine. Support your own well-being and mental health by committing to give thanks and bring gratitude into your life. With commitment and a refocus, gratitude can become a way of life. It takes practice to make gratitude a routine.
Martha Jo Asselin, PhD has over 30 years’ experience working in higher education and is currently serving as the Director of the Center for Leadership and Service at the State University of New York – University at Albany. For eight years, she has proudly served as a Board member for the New York State ACE Women’s Network.