Discover the power of gratitude
Three good things in life
It’s easy to get caught up in the noise of life that we don’t often stop to count our blessings. The three good things in life activity combines gratitude with appreciation. Simply write down 3 things that went well during the course of the day and an explanation – why it happened – for each thing.
The power of gratitude comes back to you
As you look over your blessings and benefits, you might recognise that there are particular people to whom you are thankful. Expressing gratitude by writing a gratitude letter to them is a proven way to enhance your mental and emotional well-being. A recent study found that people who wrote a gratitude letter to someone they had never properly thanked were happier and less depressed a month later than those who had simply written about an early memory, and the benefits lasted for up to three months.
Writing a thank you letter
To help you get started, consider the following as you write:
1. Why you are writing this letter
2. What you are grateful for. Be specific as possible
3. Describe the things you are grateful for in concrete terms
4. Describe how their behaviour affected you. How you benefited. What you learnt
5. Allow yourself to be in touch with the feeling of gratitude as you write
6. Read and re-read (aloud) the letter to ensure that it captures your thoughts and feelings Alternatively:
7. Set a time and day to go on your ‘Gratitude Visit’ and read them the letter
8. Make the visit (for many people this is the hardest part, but it is also the most beneficial)
To learn more about the power of gratitude in your life don't hesitate to contact our Health Coach Nelson on 02 9506 0400 or write Nelson a question on Facebook.