Individual Counseling Can Help Develop A Healthy Attitude Of Gratitude

November is National Gratitude Month, and individual counseling at Take Charge, Inc. can teach you to practice gratitude for better mental health. With Thanksgiving coming up, now is a great time to reflect on how cultivating gratitude can affect our well being. In positive psychology research, gratitude is consistently and powerfully associated with greater overall happiness. Gratitude helps you to feel more positive emotions, enjoy good experiences, improve your health, overcome adversity, and build healthy relationships.

Gratitude is being thankful for and appreciating what we have. During this time when many of us are struggling to adapt to a new normal, practicing gratitude is more important than ever. Cultivating gratitude in individual counseling helps you to refocus on what you have, instead of what you lack. It may feel contrived at first, but a state of gratitude grows stronger with use and practice.

Practicing Gratitude

Living in a state of gratitude is more than simply saying “thank you” or being mindful in pleasant moments – although those are certainly positive actions. In individual counseling, you learn to keep an attitude of gratitude even despite setbacks or hardships. Implementing these five habits can help you remain grateful during the holidays and throughout the year:

1. Pause For Gratitude

Most of us feel frustrated or upset by one thing or another on any normal day. When you find yourself feeling this way, hit the pause button and reset your thinking. Find something positive about the situation, or focus your thoughts on something unrelated that you are thankful for.

2. Thank You Notes

Writing a thank-you letter expressing your enjoyment and appreciation of someone’s impact on your life can make you happier and improve your relationship with them. Try to make sending at least one gratitude letter a month a habit. And write one to yourself once in a while.

3. Gratitude Journal

Each day, write down or share with a loved one thoughts about the blessings you’ve received. Then pick a time every week to sit down and write about all your gifts that week, reflecting on what went right or what you are grateful for. It may help to pick a number, like three to five things, that you will identify each week. Be specific and think about the sensations you felt when something good happened to you as you write.

4. Meditation

Mindfulness meditation involves focusing on the present moment without judgment. Although people often focus on a word or phrase (such as “love”), you can also focus on something you’re grateful for.

5. Individual Counseling

Individual counseling at Take Charge can teach you techniques for cultivating and practicing gratitude in your daily life.

For more information about individual counseling at Take Charge, Inc., call (913) 239-8255 or click here to schedule an appointment.