FREE Gratitude Writing Prompts
Published:
November 1, 2020
Contributor:
Shannan Swindler
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The Power of Gratitude in Appreciating the Small Things.
Gratitude is a word that is so often left out of our daily vocabulary, but it is an important factor in our happiness. During this season of Thanksgiving are you ready to work toward daily gratitude in order to make life more fulfilling and help our families be happier? A simple, genuine ‘Thank you’ is an easy place to begin and is the first step in helping our families understand the power of gratitude. Help your family express their thankfulness with these 30 gratitude writing prompts (at the end of this post).
When we think about gratitude, we tend to think about the major things in life. We are grateful for our families, our jobs, our homes. But how often do we really stop to soak in our appreciation for the small things in life? How often do we revel in the sound of the rain? Or appreciate the cup of coffee with a friend or a walk with your kids.
Consider this: The power of gratitude lies in the ability to appreciate and take notice of all of the small wonders happening around you. In learning to stop and appreciate the smallest moments in life.
How to Appreciate the Small Things
Do you or our family struggle to stop and appreciate the little things along the way? Let’s face it, we all have days where it is more of a struggle than others. These ideas are easy to implement and can help find gratitude and genuine thankfulness in the small moments of life. Here is how.
Offer a genuine ‘Thank you.’ Next time you say thank you, go all the way.
- Use the person’s name if you know it.
- Look them in the eye while you say thank you.
- Tell them specifically what you are thanking them for
- Tell them why you appreciate it or how it makes you feel.
- If it’s appropriate give them a hug, shake their hand or offer a high-5.
Does your homeschool practice the art of appreciation?
You might consider practicing mindfulness, it really is, in its simplest form, the art of appreciation. Mindfulness is a daily brain exercise where you practice focusing your thoughts on a particular aspect of life. Help your family improve their appreciation, by teaching them to focus on something small or simple around them. Sit in the backyard and spend ten quiet minutes appreciating the sound of the birds, for example.
As homeschoolers, the tendency is to turn it all into a science project, art project, or research assignment. Those have their spot in your daily lessons too, but right now just observe. Be mindful of a particular object, sound, sensation, or idea. Later, start asking them questions and finding the answers that popped up while you were observing. If your child has tons of questions or ideas it’s fun to capture those questions at the end of the mindful observing activity so you have them to learn about later.
You might also want to invest in a journal. Many people find journaling to be a positive method for helping them to refocus their thinking on something new. Spend a small amount of time each day writing about a minor detail you are grateful for. You may be surprised at how easily your attitude is influenced by daily journaling.
Get Your 30 Gratitude Writing Prompts At The End Of This Post.
Sometimes coming up with ideas to help your children recognize the power of gratitude can be difficult. Encouraging them to journal about it is easy with thankfulness and gratitude writing prompts.
Ways The Power of Gratitude Can Change Your Life
You may be surprised by the effects that a quick change in outlook on the small things in life can actually dramatically transform your life. The ability to focus on the small positives in our daily lives does not come easily for some. However, teaching and guiding your child’s heart by cultivating thankfulness is the foundation of a powerful transformation in our families, neighborhoods, and world.
You see, when you are no longer focused on the overwhelmingly negative aspects of your day and are instead focused on the tiny positive details, those negatives do not seem so dark anymore. Focusing on the small details allows you to see how so many of the big things are far outnumbered by the small.
Your family might also begin to see that their change in attitude can have a positive effect on the other people around them. When one person in the home begins to see something in a more positive light, that positivity has a way of spreading to the other people in the home. The whole house will be happier with a simple change in the way you view the world around you.
The Power of Gratitude
Appreciating the small things is not a habit that comes naturally to most of us. Those who are able to achieve this usually do it through a lot of inner reflection and hard work. They likely had people in their lives modeling the power of gratitude and showing kindness and thankfulness for them on a regular basis. Learning to appreciate the small things in life can have a major impact on your outlook on life. Help your family learn the art of appreciation.
Use these 30 writing prompts to help them see and appreciate the small things and learn how to express their gratitude.
Get Your Power of Gratitude Writing Prompts Here
