Hi there 🙂
This week, in the United States, is the holiday of Thanksgiving: a time when people get together, share what they’re thankful for, and eat a lot of turkey. I knew I wanted to focus this week’s Illuminate on gratitude, and one of the activities from this month’s POP-UP Festivals reminded me of one of my favorite activities: writing thank-you notes.
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Thank-you letters may be the most mutually beneficial gift in the world.
According to a host of research studies, focusing on gratitude, which the writer of the thank-you letter certainly does, increases physical wellbeing, psychological wellbeing, and increased empathy. And the ones who receive the thank-you letter? In one research study, receivers of gratitude letters described their mood as ‘ecstatic,’ and the average ranking of happiness upon receiving the letter was a 4 or 5.
You get a boost, they get a boost.
Can you imagine how your world would look and feel if you expressed gratitude to the ones you loved more often?
Think of someone you are grateful for — a coworker, a mentor, a friend, a family member, your favorite bank teller.
Then, ask yourself: Why are you grateful to this person? Take a moment to put it down on paper. You can write, draw, doodle, or paint. The beauty is in the fact that you took the time to share your heart.
Deliver your gratitude letter. When you deliver your message, don’t be surprised if you make their day. I wouldn’t be surprised if this practice of gratitude makes your own day, too.
REFRESH + RENEW EVERY MONDAY WITH ILLUMINATE IN YOUR INBOX!
How did it feel to share your gratitude for someone else?
How could you weave an ‘attitude of gratitude’ into your daily life—a gratitude journal, regular thank-you notes, or…?
See you next week!
Illuminate is a weekly e-mail series that provides practical tips + galvanizing inspirations for practicing an emotionally intelligent life. In our time together, we’ll operate from the assumption that you have all the wisdom you need inside of yourself + that you have a purpose the world needs to see. We will explore the tools + techniques to illuminate your own inner wisdom and purpose. If you’d like to receive this free gift of goodness in your inbox every week, subscribe here.
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I am grateful for my mother in theses tuff days because we are a family of 3 and she stills has to run a business meanwhile. My mother is my superhero although some days she is tired and has no energy she does everything in her power to make every day the best days for us, for me. I simply want to say to my mom that I love her and I’m forever grateful for her to be mother.