Greetings!

Thanksgiving is coming!  Sometimes we forget to take the time to be thankful and there is so much for which to be thankful!

Dawn Ottenbreit, MA, LLP has written a wonderful article on tips to Cultivate Gratitude in our lives.  Take a moment to read it and start on your own gratitude journey!  

We've got some great groups running now and some starting in January...see below for additional details! 

 Perspectives Counseling Centers

November is a great time of year to cultivate gratitude in our lives.  The Thanksgiving holiday helps to remind us to take time to give thanks for all that we have.

There is scientific evidence that shows people who are grateful are more likely to be happy.  So to make yourself happier~cultivate gratitude in your life.  One of the best ways to do it is to start a Gratitude Journal.

Here are some steps to create a Gratitude Journal:

1)    Get a notebook. Take some time to find a notebook that is appealing to you.  It will make you more interested in writing in it!  Or, as with everything else, you can also get a notebook app for your phone.

2)    Every night before bed, write down 5 things in your notebook that you are grateful for that day.

Hints to help the Gratitude Journal work for you:

1)    Don't write the same things every day for which you are grateful.   If you write 1. my house, 2. my cat, 3. my dog, 4. my job, 5. my car, every time, then the gratitude journal won't really work.

2)    Write some small things you are thankful for.  We all know the 'big' things (our spouse, our children, and our pets).  Sometimes it's the simple things that really help us see that there is a lot to be thankful for in our lives; they help us to cultivate gratitude.   Look for things that are less obvious, such as the color of the sunrise...or the fact that you took time to actually notice the color of the sunrise.

3)    Look for the unexpected.  Surprise often plays a part in gratitude.  The simple joys of seeing a wild bunny in the yard in the morning or a favorite song that played on radio on the way to work are wonderful little surprises for which to be grateful.

Imagine celebrating 'Thanks-Giving' every day.  Try it. Take the time to think of all that you are thankful for each day.  I bet that after six weeks, you will see for yourself that you are happier.

If you would like additional insights into living a happier life, please contact Dawn Ottenbreit or one other highly qualified therapists at 248.244.8644.

 Perspectives Counseling Centers