Gratitude Prompts & Activities

Gratitude List

According to a report from the United Nations, about 690 million people go to bed hungry. About 150 people in the world are homeless. It doesn’t take too many statistics to make us realize how fortunate we are.  Let’s simply make a list of all the things we are grateful for – food, water, a home, etc. Then choose one thing you have not thought about. Write about it. Reflect on it.

A Gratitude Jar

Take jar or box and decorate it drawings or photos of things or people you appreciate. Or like me just tie a big blue bow around it. Then each day slip a paper into the jar with one special gratitude. Whenever you feel low and need a quick pick-me0-up, open the jar and read all the gifts you have in your life! It should help.

A Gratitude Story

It is easy to make a gratitude list, but let’s explore gratitude more fully. Let’s think about why we appreciate what we have. After all, it is the reflection that grows us. Answer one or more of these questions. Take your time.

1. I am grateful for ______ (a certain person) because . . .
2. I am grateful for my family because . . .
3. I am grateful for the work I do because . . .
4. I am grateful for the fun I have when . . .
5. Something amazing that happened this week is . . .

Gratitude Meditation

We have 86,400 seconds in one day? Spend a few minutes sitting quietly in a space you love (a comfy chair, your garden) and simply think about all you have to be grateful for in this one day. You might want to listen to music as you contemplate. Here is a link to music that will help you feel gratitude as well as detox from stress:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqmO1RlqorU

Gratitude Notes

The practice of writing thank you notes for gifts has been around for ages. But what about writing thank you notes for invisible gifts – like an unexpected kindness or time spent with a special person. Any notes of gratitude increase the joy experienced by the receiver as well as the giver! Write on!