Our brains are geared to notice the negative or potential dangers in our environment to keep us safe. This can be especially true when we are faced with challenges, which we know is particularly true for many of us now. It can be helpful to intentionally notice and be grateful for the positive elements in our day, to shift our mind to being more aware of the things that are going well and/or things that we are grateful for. This activity can assist us in having a generally positive outlook to become a lifelong mentally healthy habit. By practicing training our brains to notice the positive things (these might be small things!), in our everyday lives we can work to create a sense of gratitude and contentment (happiness). Today’s Wellness Wednesday post reminds us how to find thankfulness and gratitude in small things, even during challenging times.
Try this:
As a class, group or family watch the following video about gratitude and how we can all find something to be thankful for:
Kid President’s 25 Reasons To Be Thankful! (3:46) https://youtu.be/yA5Qpt1JRE4
Use a piece of paper and a writing utensil:
- Think about somebody or something you love, or something wonderful that happened to you today (big or small). Sometimes the small things in life give us the most joy because they calm us down from the hard things we are thinking about and trying to figure out.
- Write or draw about it.
- Take three soft, slow, mindful breaths and feel thankful.
- Keep your gratitude message or drawing beside your bed. Look at it again when you go to sleep and wake up. Feel free to add to it. It’s good to remind you of the good things in your life.
Ask yourself, there is no wrong answer:
Since completing this activity, how do you feel? Is this something you would do again, discipline your mind to think of the positive things in life?
Connecting to our faith:
Give thanks to the God of heaven, For His loving kindness (graciousness, mercy, compassion) endures forever. – Psalm 136:26
Further Learning:
For youth and adults: YouTube: Shawn Achor – The Happiness Advantage: Linking Positive Brains to Performance (12:29) https://youtu.be/GXy__kBVq1M
Children’s Book:
The Book of Awesome by Neil Pasricha
Employees of LDCSB checkout WorkLifeHealth from EAP Provider Morneau Sheppell
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