Every year I hang a thankfulness tree in my front yard and I have my neighbors add little wooden tags expressing their thanks. Over 100 people participate each year in the month of November.
I don’t always read all the tags, but it brings me joy just watching people participate in this simple practice of gratitude.
100 neighbors publicly declaring what brings them joy.
100 neighbors refocusing their hearts to what they have, instead of what they don’t.
100 neighbors choosing to stop their busy lives to look inward and give thanks.
Many studies have been done on gratitude and all of them show that those that participate regularly in a gratitude practice live happier lives.
This powerful practice of redirecting your brain to the positive things in life is not something that comes naturally to us. Our brains are wired to focus on what we don’t have, instead of what we do.
My 7-year-old, for example, always asks for a second scoop of ice cream. One is never enough.
She always asks for a second candy. The first didn’t do it for her.
She always wants a second reward, one wasn’t adequate.
Her 7-year-old brain says “more, more, more” all of the time.
And our brains, as adults, are wired the same way.
We want MORE time with our kids.
We want MORE time to get through our to-do’s.
We want MORE money so we can feel secure.
Gratitude helps us, instead, to focus on what we have and say “it’s enough”.
Gratitude helps remind our brains that…
We are enough.
We have enough.
And we are good enough.
Today, on Thanksgiving, give your brain the gift of enoughness.
Focus on what you have, instead of what you don’t.
Focus on what you bring to the lives of people around you, instead of what you can’t.
Focus on the amazing mom, wife, daughter, and friend you are instead of how you aren’t.
Fill your body with enoughness.
And let yourself feel all its goodness.
Happy Thanksgiving. You are unique and I am grateful you are in my world.
