7 Ways to Actually Give Thanks at Thanksgiving

I’m about to drop a major truth bomb here: holidays have become increasingly commercialized.

I know. Please hold back your gasps and try not to faint.

Obviously Thanksgiving is a time to show gratitude for the bounteous supply of blessings in our lives, but truth be told, Thanksgiving has become (at least in my case) a time to show more gratitude for my stretchy pants than a time to ponder on the beauty of life and the wonderful opportunities I’ve been given.

As I was reflecting on this, I stumbled across a quote by 20th-century author and motivational speaker William Arthur Ward. He wrote, “Gratitude can transform common days into Thanksgiving, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.”

If every day can be turned into Thanksgiving, then Thanksgiving can definitely be turned into Thanksgiving, right? #deepthoughts

Mostly I just wanted to see how many times I could squeeze the word “Thanksgiving” into one sentence, but the principle is still true. That being said, I’m sure we could all use a little help in making this holiday season one of greater gratitude, so here is a list of a few ways we can feel more thankful during this Thanksgiving season.

1. Gratitude Prayers

Some of the best experiences I’ve ever had in prayer have been when I was saying a prayer of thanksgiving.

The popular LDS hymn “Count Your Blessings,” includes the line, “Count your blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done.”

It’s highly probable that truer words have never been sung by the human tongue. (Another thing to be grateful for: unintentional rhymes.) Every time I say a prayer thanking God for all that He has done for me, I begin with thanking Him for my family and my friends, but by the end I’m crying and thanking Him for pictures of puppies in baby swings.

That’s not a joke. I’m grateful for those pictures. If you embark upon the gratitude-prayer journey, I guarantee that you’ll be surprised at all the little things you have to be happy about and thankful for.

2. Commend with Compliments

Hey, you’re fantastic.

That feels good, right? Getting a compliment? Having someone tell you how awesome and wonderful and great you are?

Mark Twain once said, “I can live for two months on a good compliment,” and we couldn’t agree more. But it turns out that the only thing that just might feel better than GETTING a compliment is GIVING one.

When you take time to recognize someone’s good qualities and to verbalize those, you’ll begin to realize how much beauty is in the world. You will feel grateful to be surrounded by wonderful people.

And when your gratitude increases, your happiness increases. So basically this recommendation is just a 2-thumbs up kind of idea all the way around.  Excuse us while we curtsy to your applause.

3. Get Involved

Whenever I read the words “get” and “involved” in the same sentence, I typically roll my eyes, because the only thing I like to get involved with is my couch and a good show on Netflix.

But it turns out that my bah-humbug attitude needs a little adjusting, because there are actually so many simple ways to get involved.

Of course there are things like volunteering at the Soup Kitchen and your local animal shelter, but there are also many other easy ways to get involved in service.

Make cookies for the children in your primary class that don’t come very often. Create a favorite Thanksgiving dessert and drop it off for a friend that is struggling. Invite someone lonely over for Family Home Evening.

There are so many ways to help! If you look and pray for opportunities to serve, we promise that you’ll find them.

4. Keep a Journal

Right you’re probably thinking, “Wow, I’m so surprised that you’re recommending keeping a gratitude journal.” And you’re probably pretty heavy on the sarcasm.

But guess what? That’s actually not what we’re suggesting. While gratitude journals are great, just journaling in general can help you to be more thankful. But there is one stipulation: you can and should write about the bad things that happen to you, but you also have to write about the good things.

In the past, I’ve treated my journal like something of a punching bag, filling it with rage, anger, and beads of sweat. Well, maybe not so much the sweat part. But if I didn’t know any better, I’d read my journals and think, “Wow. My life kind of stunk.” But it didn’t. I just forgot to write about the good things and used my journal as only a place to vent.

However, if you use your journal to record both the good and the bad in your life, you’ll be able to look back at different times in your past and see how the Lord’s hand was always there; how He has always taken care of you and helped you.

And if that’s not something to be grateful for, what is?

5. Meditate

Taking a minute for yourself to clear your mind? Sign me up, please.

There are tons of benefits to meditation, from raising your self-esteem to reducing stress and improving concentration. Simply, meditation is scientifically proven to make us happier.

After work or a hard class or whatever it might be, give yourself a minute to breathe by meditating. You’ll find that your mood is improved, your sense of self is brightened, and you’re generally more grateful.

It might sound to good to be true, but the best part about it is that it IS true. Once you start, you’ll never want to go another day without meditating.

6. Don’t Gossip

I’ve never once gossiped about someone and then thought, “Boy, that conversation really made me feel like a great person.”

Gossiping keeps your mind on negative thoughts and feelings, not to mention that it could deeply hurt someone else.

Sean Covey, the author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, wrote, “Isn’t it kind of silly to think that tearing someone else down builds you up?”

Tearing someone else down never builds us up. Doing so is trying to find light in shadows.

As you focus on refraining from gossip and instead try your darndest to think positively of others, you’ll find that you’re happier, less irritated, and generally just more grateful.

7. Love Yourself

And I don’t mean love yourself in the way that Justin Bieber sings about, which is like, “Don’t actually love yourself; get used to being alone because you’re the worst.”

I mean actually learn to love yourself. Learn to appreciate the good things about yourself and to embrace your quirks, whether that means you enjoy eating peanut butter and pickle sandwiches or that you secretly enjoy polka music. Love what makes you unique.

Loving yourself is someone that’s much easier said than done, but it is possible. Ask Heavenly Father to show you how He sees you. Write affirmations and stick them on your mirror. When you start comparing yourself to others, cut those thoughts off immediately by reminding yourself why you’re great.

Loving yourself and being thankful for who you are is a way of praising God. After all, He made you. ♥

Choose to be grateful this holiday season, and tell us some of the ways that you cultivate an attitude of gratitude!