Undiscovered Pathways

Thankfulness arises from something specific. Gratitude is reflecting on the things that you are thankful for…

Happy New Year and Welcome to 2025!

Welcome to the New Year and usually at the start of year we think about thankfulness. Instead, what a great way to start the year with a new mindset of gratitude.

I originally was writing this blog at the time of Thanksgiving as that is the time of year that thankfulness is discussed the most. I am glad the timing didn’t work out as New Year’s Day is a great time to talk about gratitude.

A better practice is to display a mind of gratitude throughout the year rather than only on a seasonal basis. There are benefits of displaying gratitude and numerous ways to practice gratitude.

Benefits of Gratitude

• Increased Happiness
• Less Stress
• More Optimism
• Better Sleep
• Increases Empathy

While my husband was waiting to be listed on the lung transplant list, I started practicing mindfulness which encompasses gratitude. I listen to podcasts on health and wellness and one of them mentioned an app called Insight Timer. The app has challenges, courses, and music to promote mindfulness, mediation, and gratitude. I tried out the free version and saw what they had to offer and I have experienced the benefits of the practice. It is one of my daily practices.

Making this a practice decreases stress and allows you to get better sleep thereby increases your health. Practicing gratitude increases happiness, empathy, and you have more optimism each day.

In the next section, there are ways to practice gratitude.

Practicing Gratitude

• Keep a Gratitude Journal.
• Take a walk.
• Show your gratitude to a loved one or a friend by some act of kindness.
• Change your perspective or your mindset.
• Take care of your body.
• Be thankful for your good health.
• Try volunteering.
• Donate unwanted belongings.
• Support a cause.
• Pray
• Meditate
• Practice Mindfulness
• Perform random acts of kindness.
• Keep a Gratitude Jar.
• Use Gratitude Rocks.
• Make a Gratitude Tree.
• Make a Gratitude Collage.

Last year, I signed up my granddaughter for a pottery class that was held in a building in a sculpture park. While she was at the class, I walked through the park in March and April when the weather was brisk and the perfect environment for having a mindset for gratitude.

There are several things you can make to reinforce the feeling of gratitude. This past Thanksgiving, I made a gratitude tree by collecting twigs from a neighborhood walk and had leaves that you can write what you are thankful for. Kids love this one. This list is not an all-inclusive list so you can probably think of other ways to practice gratitude.