Thanksgiving is one of the best times of the year. It’s the start of the holiday season, a chance to get together with loved ones, and a time to eat plenty of delicious food. For some, it can also be a time of stress and anxiety – hosting Thanksgiving dinner, dealing with complicated family relationships and worrying about holiday shopping.
Whether you’re excited for the holidays or a little anxious, take the opportunity the holidays present to slow down. Practice Thanksgiving gratitude for all the blessings in your life instead of focusing on the negatives. Then, think about how you can extend this season of gratitude to improve your entire life year-round.
What does it mean to have a grateful Thanksgiving?
The relationship between gratitude and Thanksgiving is deeply ingrained in the holiday. Some of us grew up going around the table and sharing something we’re thankful for each year. Quotes about gratitude and Thanksgiving pop up on our social media feeds along with hashtags like “#blessed” and “#thankful.” There’s no doubt these feelings are sincere, but there’s a difference between being thankful and being grateful.
Being thankful is a fleeting moment, a feeling. It’s when your partner takes care of the chores or errands. Or when a coworker covers for you at work. When a stranger finds and returns your wallet. On the other hand, being grateful is a mindset. It’s a state of grace of constant thankfulness. It’s an appreciation for all that life brings, good and bad – because even our worst moments can shape us in positive ways. When you not only have Thanksgiving gratitude but also gratitude for life itself, you’ll find fulfillment in life.
How do you express Thanksgiving gratitude?
The season of gratitude is an excellent time to get started creating the habits that will lead you to an abundance mindset.
- Give back. Volunteer, make an extra meal for your neighbor, donate money or invite someone to dinner who doesn’t have anywhere to go. Giving back fulfills our deepest human needs, especially around the holidays.
- Be present. Oftentimes the gift of presence is the greatest gift we can give our loved ones. Use the time around Thanksgiving to reconnect with friends and family. Put down your phones, be completely present, and magic will happen.
- Trade expectations for appreciation. It’s easy to let family arguments or conflicting personalities get in the way of a grateful Thanksgiving. But when you let go of expectations and search for what you appreciate about each person in your life, your world changes.
- Share memories and goals. The holidays are all about creating and sharing memories. Remember the past year, relive your favorite moments and find the good that came from the bad. You’ll feel closer to your loved ones and discover a more meaningful type of Thanksgiving gratitude.
Experience the season of gratitude year-round
A grateful Thanksgiving can be the start of a grateful life. It’s a chance to re-energize your body and mind, refocus on your goals and reconnect with what matters most in life. Find a job you love and excel at work – or start a business of your own. Find a passionate relationship and show up to your existing relationships. Don’t just discover your peak state, but live in it every day.
You can do all of this by shifting your focus because where focus goes, energy flows. Instead of feeling frustrated or angry, ask yourself, “What could I be grateful for right now?” Realize that life is happening for you, not to you. You choose the meaning that you assign to your experiences. This realization will revitalize your life and give you the energy and vitality you need to achieve everything you want and more.
Hear what Tony and Sage Robbins have to say about the gift of gratitude and how to find the blessing not only this holiday season but at any time of year. Ten read the quotes below to get inspired to have your best holiday season yet.
Quotes on Thanksgiving and gratitude
“When you are grateful, fear disappears and abundance appears.” – Tony Robbins
“Trade your expectations for appreciation and your whole world changes in an instant.” – Tony Robbins
“I started out giving thanks for small things, and the more thankful I became, the more my bounty increased.” – Oprah Winfrey
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them.” – John F. Kennedy
“No one has ever become poor by giving.” – Anne Frank
“Be present in all things and thankful for all.” – Maya Angelou
“Thanksgiving is a joyous invitation to shower the world with love and gratitude.” – Amy Leigh Mercree
“I am grateful for what I am and have. My thanksgiving is perpetual.” – Henry David Thoreau
“Thanksgiving isn’t just a day. It’s a way we can live our lives every day.” – Katrina Mayer
“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” – William Arthur Ward
This Thanksgiving, don’t just be thankful. Realize that you are truly blessed, and practice a deep and unwavering Thanksgiving gratitude that will last not only through the holidays but throughout your entire life.