I’m not really sure how gratitude and gangsters came to be associated with one another, but if it gets people to give it a try then I guess I won’t read too much into it. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

There are a variety of research based reasons to start practicing gratitude on a regular basis. From improved general happiness to a strengthened immune system, it’s hard to find a reason why we wouldn’t want to practice gratitude. So the question should no longer be if we practice gratitude but how we practice it.

If you don’t engage in regular gratitude practice, try a few different approaches until you find one that gets you excited about doing it. Maybe you do the same practice each day or week, or perhaps you mix it up. There’s no right or wrong way to practice — it’s just important to practice.

Starting Your Gratitude Practice

Looking for some inspiration? Try on one of the following to see what fits best:

• Write a letter of gratitude to someone who has impacted your life, explaining why you’re so thankful for them. If you feel moved to, you can deliver it to them, but it isn’t a requirement to reap the benefits.
• Each day or week, record a few things you’re grateful for in a journal. Simply list them or elaborate. Both are worthwhile exercises.
• Teach it to your children. Before a shared meal or after school, share what you’re grateful for with your son/daughter and invite them to do the same.

Hungry for more? You can find more gratitude exercises, games, and apps recommended by the Positive Psychology Program here.

Think you can extend your gratitude practice beyond the holiday season with me?