The month of November is about being thankful and appreciative. Thanksgiving is specifically set aside as a day to “give thanks”, yet in our hustle culture we tend to get lost in the bustle and focus only on what we DON’T have. Here are some simple ways to pivot your attention to what you DO have:

*Get outside! Fresh air and a little sunshine can do wonders for our mood, but even on a rainy or cold day, focusing on your 5 senses can be very beneficial. What do you see, hear, feel, touch and taste? Let that serve as a reminder of how beautiful it is to be alive.

*Learn and practice mindfulness. The art of focusing our full attention on the present moment. What are you doing? Thinking? Feeling? Right this moment.

*Use your mirror. Look past your physical self and do a deep dive through your eyes. They are the “windows to our soul”. Focus on what you bring to the world! Everyone has talents. Sometimes we have to give ourselves permission to look for them, call them out and celebrate them.

*Use good old fashioned paper. Writing in whatever form calls you. Making a list, telling a story or drawing. Putting on paper what you are grateful for helps to ground us. To remind us. And then we can refer to them when we feel lost.

Often people will tell me that they can’t see beyond their pain whether physical or emotional. Truly develop this skill, this “muscle“ of gratefulness requires persistence, practice and being intentional on a daily basis. It requires willingness and it is possible!