Science has suggested that people who are grateful are happier, according to Gretchen Rubin. Author of The Happiness Project & Happier at Home, Gretchen scheduled a gratitude project and it changed her outlook.
Here are three easy ways to cultivate gratitude for YOUR busy family.
A Gratitude Journal
A simple gratitude journal is an easy way to list your blessings. It can be as simple as a plain notebook or you could use one of the many beautiful journal collecting dust on your shelf. Or maybe that’s just my house.
Here are two gratitude prompt printables I made; one with quotes & one with Bible verses.
For more ideas, check out my post at Successful Homemakers (FKA Homemakers Challenge) — Quick & Easy Gratitude Journals.
DIY Family Gratitude Wreath
If you need some help as a family, but are looking for a smaller project than the Thankfulness Tree I shared a few years back, try this Thanksgiving Wreath.
Supplies
- A circle cut from a paper plate or cardboard
- Leaves, handprints, or other shapes (we bought a foam craft kit from JoAnn’s a few weeks ago)
- Sharpie or other dark marker
- Glue
- Ribbon
- Hole Punch
Directions
- Cut a wreath shape from your plate or cardboard. Make sure it’s big enough to glue stuff to, but not so big you can see it around your shapes.
- Cut or punch a hole at the top and thread the ribbon through. Tie a knot to make a loop to hang the wreath from.
- Lay out your shapes around the wreath, spread out enough to write on them. When you are happy with how they look, glue them on. Save the bottom center for last.
- On the bottom center shape, write “I am thankful for…”
- Write what your family members are thankful for on each shape until you have filled the wreath.
- Hang & enjoy!
Gratitude on the Go
If you are always on the go, I found an awesome app to help cultivate gratitude — Gratitude365. This inexpensive app allows you to track things you are grateful for by text AND photo. You can view the list, the day or the calendar with pictures.
My full review of the Gratitude365, with screenshots, can be found at CatholicMom.com.
So what about your house? Do you try to be intentional about gratitude? What tools or practices do you have?
