At this time of year, we are all encouraged to be more aware of our blessings and to be especially appreciative of our good fortune. This may seem like a daunting task or useless exercise if you are grieving the loss of someone or something fundamental to your life. Researchers at UCDavis are discovering that there are several health benefits from developing a practice of gratitude. Among these benefits are: increased optimism, alertness, enthusiasm, determination, attentiveness and energy; a greater sense of feeling connected to others; improved sleep. These are all qualities and benefits that can help support the bereft.
Here are some ideas to tap into your thankfulness for what remains, was, and is yet to come:
- Create a gratitude time line, recording your earliest recollections of things you are grateful and thankful for in your life right up to the present. Choose one thing from your time line and write about it.
- Explore the "dark side of the gratitude moon. Write about an experience that, at the time, did not seem like something you would be grateful for happening, but in retrospect was a great gift.
- Write a Thanksgiving prayer/ ritual for yourself and /or family.
