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Practicing Gratitude

Gratitude is a feeling, and an emotion that we feel when we are thankful for something, a situation or someone.
Practicing gratitude has numerous benefits, including: 
  • Help increase a positive mood
  • Reduce burnouts and fatigue
  • Improve physical health and sleep.
For families, it can improve interactions, awareness, and can strengthen a family’s resilience. Being mindful of creating a routine of gratitude can empower military families as they navigate through the posting cycle and adapt to the intricate struggles that can accompany the Military Lifestyle.

Here are some ideas on how you can implement gratitude in your daily routine.
  • Gratitude Walk - Name the things that you notice during your walk, recognizing the 5 senses- smell of the air or the flowers, the sound the ground makes when you are walking, noticing the changes of the season, the items you can touch on the ground.
  • Gratitude Dinner - When sitting down for dinner, do a round table to share what the favorite part of your day is, something that you are looking forward to and something that made you smile today. (e.g., It can be wearing an outfit that you like, playing with your favorite toy, or even a smile from a co-worker)
  • Gratitude Journal/List– Set up a time either once a day, once a week or once a month to take a moment and reflect upon some things that you are grateful for. Feel free to draw or write in the journal. Feel free to use the prompts below as a starting off point for your journal.
  • Gratitude Board – Hang a corkboard at a lower level for both children and adults to reach and post moments or things for which you are grateful, with drawings or notes. Once the board is full, take a picture of it and start over!
  • Gratitude Prompts – Create gratitude prompts card with different questions, to spark grateful conversation during times when it might be harder to feel grateful.
Examples of gratitude prompts to start discussion
  • Today was special because__________.
  • I appreciate __________ because _________.
  • I felt happy today when ___________.
  • Something little that made me smile was ___________.
  • Today I had fun with __________.
  • Something I like about myself ___________.
  • What is one of your favorite memories __________.
  • Draw something that makes you feel happy.

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