Every November, I challenge you to have a month of being thankful and feeling grateful.
Why is being thankful so important?
According to gratitude expert Sarah Ban Breathnach, “You simply will not be the same person two months from now after consciously giving thanks each day for the abundance that exists in your life. And you will have set in motion an ancient spiritual law: the more you have and are grateful for, the more will be given to you.”
For most happy people feeling thankful for your blessings is usually easy. In fact, the more thankful we are, the happier we usually are.
However, sometimes, when we are in the middle of chaos, it’s not always easy to feel thankful even if we know we should be thankful for something. If you’re not in a thankful space, don’t beat yourself up. To change your space follow these steps:
- Keep recognizing your happy moments. If you need some help increasing your happy awareness then check out our Thirty-One Types of Happiness.
- Start small by recognizing the things you might feel grateful for like the nice fall weather, that you’re healthy, or that you have a pet that loves you. How do those things make you feel? If you feel thankful they are part of your life, then you’re on your way to increasing the list. Try to have at least five things on it each day.
If you’re part of our Facebook following, then, you’ll get a daily reminder and quote about thankfulness and gratitude.
In the meantime, come back to this post as often as you’d like and share what you’re thankful for. Or keep a journal, post it on your Facebook page, Tweet your thanks, or even create a Thankful Pinterest Board.
Being thankful is one of the most important happiness habits that we can develop because it enables us to increase our happiness.
Pamela Gail Johnson, Founder, Secret Society of Happy People
I’m thankful that you all want to be part of the Secret Society of Happy People.
I am thankful to live in a country that has elections, and I am also thankful that this election is almost over 🙂 If you haven’t done so already, remember to vote and to be happy for that privilege!
Great post, and great advice Pamela! I know that feeling thankful can be difficult, especially when we have just been dealt a blow or had something tragic happen in our lives. Non-the-less, your points are valid and your advice is a great way to begin the process of feeling better.
Keep your tweets and facebook posts coming, they always help me to smile and often remind me of what really matters in life!
What A Grand Idea….. I Am Thamkful Every Day For God Allowing Me Another Glorious Day To Breath……Steve Palmer Indian Rocks Beach….PJ’s Oyster Bar
Thanks for the comment Steve … and enjoy you list :-).
Make that THANKFUL
I love this Pamela; I am a person that can be very thankful for a lot of things in my life, but that consistency to be conscious of being thankful every day is a key to change in our life.
Olga thanks for sharing … and working on the consistency.
Being truly grateful is a learned way of being and is the key to opening all other doors in life. Great article!
Denny sounds like you have developed a thankful habit and are a believer. Thanks for the comment.
Such a great post Pamela! It’s really hard to stay thankful in all situations, but I work on it everyday! Thanks for the reminders 🙂
Thanks Kelly for practicing thankfulness … which is one of the 31 Types of Happiness.
Great post and so important!
Thank Kerry …
Feeling thankful is so powerful and we all need the reminder. Thanks for sharing!
Sherie, thanks for the comment … being thankful should be a habit, but it does take practice.
Great post Pamela. It’s easy to forget to be thankful. You can’t be hateful if you’re grateful!!
Thanks Michael … and you’re right about the grateful part.
I am thankful for many blessings. I try to count them every time I get down. Thank you for sharing!
When I first awake I am thankful for the freedom retirement grants me and for the wonderful choices I get to make on how to make this day pleasant for me and those around me.
I love your fanpage and am so glad that you are a part of you can do! I am thankful you are a part of my favorite group!
I’m thankful for such a great reminder about “thankfulness.” Great post!
Gratitude is the open door to abundance! 🙂
Gratitude is everything. I am a very grateful person and can feel the difference when and if I slip…:)
Great post Pamela. Amazing things happen when we are thankful “in every circumstance” — Some of the things I used to take so for granted I am now seeing as my biggest blessings that I give thanks for. Have loved being on a journey with others expressing gratitude every day to someone by sending them a card of gratitude… Love the way lives can be touched by being intentional in our gratefulness. Thanks for reminding us to be thankful.
I am thankful for our ability to communicate! My bro had a stroke a few days ago which affected his speech. He is in therapy and should have no permanent damage, but since his incident I have had folks tell me about others who were not so fortunate and who lost their ability to speak. I gave this much thought, and I now have a deep appreciation for our unique ability to communicate with one another. We are miracles!!
“Happy awareness”! Love that! And I think all of us could use more of it!
Pamela, just love this post on Gratitude! Thanks so much for the reminder to be grateful every day.
Great post. When we are grateful for the small things we have we prepare to receive bigger things…but, not until.
No matter how harsh life may be, there is always something to be thankful for, even just the mere fact that we’re able to wake up each morning and be with our loved ones. =)
Love, love, love this Pamela! Being thankful and having gratitude are 2 of my favorite words. I just adore you and your beautiful heart 🙂