In the United States we will be celebrating Thanksgiving this week. While Thanksgiving traces its roots to a harvest festival to give thanks for a successful growing season, the modern holiday is known for sharing a meal of turkey and trimmings while expressing gratitude for all of the blessings bestowed throughout the year.

Gratitude is one of the highest states of emotion we can experience. It’s amazing how one simple, easy, positive action can change so much about a person and their life.

Why should you have a good attitude? The most altruistic reason is for the advancement of humankind. Saying ‘thank you’ helps others to feel good.

Another reason to develop an attitude of gratitude is that like attracts like. Let’s consider the scenario of a complainer. This person is more likely to find and associate with others to “validate” their misery and alienate those who do not. On the other hand, if you display a positive outlook, you will attract positive people into your life. Positive and successful people include appreciation into the very essence of their being.

One further reason is it is beneficial to your health. In a 2003 research study, one group recorded in a diary their daily events, another group wrote down unpleasant experiences that happened to them that day, and the third group wrote down a daily record listing all that they were grateful for.

Researchers found that the gratitude group was more likely to help others, exercise, and complete personal goals, while reporting more alertness, determination, energy, enthusiasm and optimism. This study also found that people who take time to deliberately record what they are grateful for were more likely to feel loved and found more kindness reciprocated.  Also, grateful people were thankful regardless of whether special events happened in their day or not. 

William A. Ward put it best when he said, “God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say ‘thank you’?”

Here is how to cultivate an attitude of thanksgiving and gratitude.

1. Get a different perspective. Do you like to take photographs? Sometimes it is difficult to photograph familiar objects in a way that keeps them looking fresh and interesting. This is because people usually take the photographs from their level. Shooting from up high or from the ground looking up can reveal things about those objects that no one may have seen before. It is all in perspective. You can choose to focus on what you do not have, or make a conscious effort to notice what you do have. If you cannot see it, get a different view.

2. Count all of your blessings. Say them, write them, draw them, make a vision board or a video vision board but count them. To truly feel gratitude, you have to acknowledge your blessings.

3. Show appreciation. Recognizing the other people’s achievements helps them feel appreciated. We should want to help those we who mean the most to us feel good. However, the reverse usually happens. Often, we neglect to thank those closest to us, especially when we view their actions as part of an expected role.

Instead, we to thank casual acquaintances, various servers, cashiers and office workers we see while doing our everyday chores. Showing both types of appreciation are important. Give thanks to those who make your life easier during the day, but also express your gratitude to those you care about the most. I make it a point to thank my husband for the little things he does for me and the things he does around the house, because I want him to know I appreciate him.

I regularly look for ways to give thanks, so here is what I am grateful now: I want to give thanks for how my life has changed in the last ten years; for learning how to live healthy, happy, and successful life. I also give thanks to my husband who means the world to me. He continues to teach me about patience, life and unconditional love. Finally, thanks to my family, friends and readers. You encourage me, allow me to fulfill my dreams and share my positive thoughts and motivations.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving celebration! Remember to give thanks and gratitude for all of your blessings.