Skip to main content

5 Ways to Express Gratitude as a Family

 5 Ways to Express Gratitude as a Family

express gratitude heart ornament
Gratitude is thankfulness. To practice gratitude is to express appreciation for your blessings - your substance and circumstances. It's acknowledging things that are going right or well. It's identifying that there can be good in the bad, beauty in struggle, purpose in pain, etc.  

Expressing gratitude has mental and physical health benefits. Showing gratitude can improve sleep, mood, and immunity; it can decrease feelings of anxiety and depression, and improve outcomes of chronic pain and disease (source: Mayo Clinic). 

Expressing gratitude is an antidote to negative feelings that can result from comparison and imposter syndrome. 

Pair expressing gratitude with something you do every day to make it a habit. I state three things I'm grateful for while my morning coffee brews. This helps set the tone  to start the day with a positive perspective.

Expressing gratitude is a great tool to model and practice. Let's look at 5 ways to express gratitude as a family. 

**This post contains affiliate links. I earn small commissions for qualified purchases at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support!

1. Say Grace

Having basic necessities of food, clothing and shelter is something many of us likely take for granted. Don't limit saying grace  to being thankful for food at mealtimes. 

If your family is together and engaged for dinner, get in the habit of giving everyone a chance to express gratitude. While every day may not be good, there is something good in everyday. Tap into and reflect on that.

The bedtime routine presents another wonderful opportunity to express gratitude. Check out these family books about gratitude to help you get started. 

kids book about gratitude

2. Put it in Writing

You can keep a gratitude journal, of course. But you can also make expressing gratitude more interactive. Place a chalkboard or whiteboard in a prominent place in your home. 
express gratitude chalkboard

Expressing gratitude may come easier for some if it's less formal than at dinner time or during bedtime. All too often we point out what we perceive as wrong rather than "highlight the right." 

This is a great opportunity to say thank you for hanging your coat or taking out the trash.

3. Send Thank You Notes

Sending thank you notes seems like a dying gesture, and often a missed opportunity. You should send thank you notes when it's expected, such as after receiving gifts for special occasions. 

Also send a thank you note after a job interview to show gratitude for time and consideration, and likely give yourself an edge over the competition.

Perhaps there's someone who is often there for you to help ease your burden. Be sure to thank that person to show you appreciate having them in your life. 

4. Make a Gratitude Tree or Turkey 

I love this exercise, especially leading up to Christmas to combat commercialism and consumerism. Put up your Christmas tree early, and add leaves to the tree every day to express gratitude. 

Or create a thankful turkey, and add a feather to the turkey each day. If you're crafty or want to practice fine motor skills, then you can create your own leaves or turkeys and feathers. 
express gratitude thankful turkey

5. Pay it Forward

Paying it forward can take many forms. Pay for coffee or a meal. Involve your kids in the process of decluttering to donate unwanted items before bringing new things into the home over the holiday season. Or select new items to purchase and donate. 

Look for opportunities to serve as a family at a soup kitchen or collect food, clothing or monetary donations for a good cause. Build blessing bags or backpacks for those in need.

This may just become the holiday season tradition that your family most enjoys. 

Check out how to be genuinely grateful and reap the benefits for more ways to express gratitude. 

Summary

Expressing gratitude is a worthwhile practice with many benefits. Express gratitude as a family to show appreciation for your blessings. 

If you're blessed, then pay it forward and be a blessing to others. Be intentional. Make expressing gratitude a daily habit not only during the holiday season, but every day throughout the year.


What is one thing you're grateful for today?



Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Screening colonoscopy prep and procedure: a firsthand account

Content warning: mentions cancer and death If I had a dollar for every time a patient came into my office and said they “want to be checked for cancer,” well…I probably wouldn’t be writing this blog post! There is no single universal test for cancer, but common things happen commonly. Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths when men and women are combined ( cancer.org ). Screening for colorectal cancer should be on your list to be “checked for cancer.”  For those at average risk, screening for colorectal cancer should begin at age 45 ( cdc.gov ). If you want to know more about colorectal cancer incidence, risk factors and screening methods, then check out last week's blog post  here . I am at increased risk for colorectal cancer, because my father died from complications of colon cancer when he was only 45. So though I’m only in my thirties, I’ve already had my first screening colonoscopy, which is the gold standard screening method for individuals a...
Post a Comment
Read more

Looking to save money? 4 High Yield Savings Accounts you should check out!

Looking to save money? 4 High Yield Savings Accounts you should check out!  Let’s talk high yield savings accounts (HYSAs). Gone are the days of having “mattress money.” Or at least they should be. Why? Because you should not be keeping your emergency fund under your bed! Wouldn’t it be better to put your money where it could make you MORE money while you sleep instead?   If you have an emergency fund, you are already ahead of the game. Check out this article  that states only 44% of Americans can cover a $1,000 emergency expense from their savings. An emergency or rainy day fund is just what it sounds like: money set aside for unforeseen costly circumstances. Think car or home repairs, medical emergencies, pet injuries - you get the picture. These things can happen to anyone, so we should all prepare for them. You’ll find that the more prepared you are, the less emergencies you will experience! So what should you do? First, aim to have $1,000 set aside. Ideally, you will...
8 comments
Read more

What Do Different Colored Pumpkins Mean on Halloween?

What Do Different Colored Pumpkins Mean on Halloween? From pillowcases to pumpkin pails, kids carry all kinds of candy receptacles to trick-or-treat. While much thought might not go into using a grocery bag, the use of different colored pumpkins for trick or treat could be intentional.  Just as trick-or-treaters can send a signal with what they carry to collect candy, people passing out treats can do the same with their Halloween decor. Whether you collect or pass out treats, arm yourself with the knowledge of what different colored pumpkins mean on Halloween to prepare for all sorts of trick-or-treaters. **This post contains affiliate links. I earn small commissions from clicks and qualified purchases at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support! Teal Pumpkins  Teal pumpkins represent food allergies. Your child with a food allergy can carry a  teal pumpkin trick or treat bucket .  Decorate your porch with a  teal pumpkin  to provide a more inclusive tr...
6 comments
Read more