“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 you will be given.” -Sarah Ban Breathnach
Around the holidays I bring out our trusty old gratitude jar. It’s full of ripped and torn tiny pieces of colored construction paper with words like “family,” “this breath,” and even silly things that my 3 year old dropped in like, “apples.”
Gratitudes are relative to your situation but also universal. On those days where nothing feels right, give thanks to your breath first. As you focus on the ability to breathe, you might even start to feel your diaphragm filling up like a balloon. This is called awareness; it’s a form of meditation. This is also your purpose. For me, these little reminders are like love notes to my mind and body, making me a better mother, a better wife and of course a better friend.
The Science Behind Gratitude
Finally, science and the Western world is beginning to catch up and has discovered a direct correlation of ancient yogic philosophy and mental and physical wellbeing, specifically, toward the power of positivity and gratitudes. It has been proven that by saving space in your day to jot down gratitudes in a journal will increase your overall happiness by at least 10 percent. Just for reference, doubling your salary also increases your happiness by 10 percent. A single act in the morning has the potential to redirect and make a positive shift in your entire day.
Sadly, it is underutilized because like anything new, it takes practice. It isn’t easy or fun in our world of: Wake Up. Check Email. Check Instagram. Coffee. Kids. It takes a certain amount of dedication to commit to a gratitude practice. What always keeps me coming back is the realization that like with anything, over time it will become easier to make it an integral part of my day and life. My mantra continues to be, “Sarah, be kind to the you you haven’t met yet.” A bit more about mindfulness and how to be a more peaceful mama.
I also hope and pray this is one of my parenting skills I pass down to my children. As my kids have gotten older, I want them to have a gratitude and happiness practice in their toolbox for when they have hard days. Check out how other moms in our community develop gratitude practices in their families.
How to Make a Gratitude Jar
It’s so simple, y’all. It doesn’t have to be fancy, although it can be. I’ve even seen these gratitude practices take the form of a tree. It has a rustic feel and could be the perfect segue into holiday décor.
For a jar, Target has the best selections right now of mason jars, cookie jars, and décor jars. Find one that is big enough to house all your gratitudes and easily accessible to open, especially if the littles will be involved. I’ve used scrap sheets of paper before, of all colors. I recently found the cutest little gift tags of gold and silver and used those in lieu of construction paper for a more festive feel.
Leave the jar somewhere universal in the home. This is not any jar. This is a powerful happiness jar. If used the right way it can change your trajectory of your entire day, remember?
If you’re not crafty, but still want to start a Gratitude practice, the next time you’re at Target, pick up your very own journal. Find one that is small and special to you. Perhaps it has a quote on it or it happens to be your favorite color. Write it out, mama: every darn thing that brings you joy or makes you say “Thank you, GOD,” for today. Read back over it in times of despair, need, or sadness. Create the shift.
”Give thanks for a little and you will have a lot” -Hansa Proverb
