Of all the holidays throughout the year, Thanksgiving is my favorite. It provides us the rare opportunity to take time out from our busy schedules to reflect and give thanks for our many blessings.
There is something to be said about gratitude.
Author and researcher Dr. Robert Emmons has discovered that it is the secret to a more meaningful life.
Studies have shown that gratitude can improve emotional and physical health, and strengthen relationships and communities.
In my work with couples, I often refer to the adage - "What you focus on expands."
If you focus on the flaws in your relationship, you will notice these flaws more often. If, however, you practice this wonderful virtue of gratitude, and focus on what you love and cherish about your partner, this is what will expand in your field of awareness.
Gratitude changes your perception thus changing your world. It works kind of like a prism, changing ordinary light into a rainbow of colors. The light doesn't actually change, but our perception of it changes depending upon how we look through the prism.
Here are two practical ways you can bring gratitude into your life and your relationship.
Keep a Gratitude Journal
Keeping a gratitude journal about your relationship allows you to look past a multitude of annoying habits and helps you rediscover what makes your partner so special.
The Appreciation Dialogue
One of the variations of my Couples Dialogue is the Appreciation Dialogue. When couples practice this dialogue regularly they cultivate the habit of noticing and sharing all the things they love about each other. Can you imagine how this could impact your relationship?
Let's make Thanksgiving a tradition that we practice every day of the year so that we can all reap the rewards of a truly blessed and grateful heart.
Happy Thanksgiving!
If you would like to talk to me personally about how to have a more passionate and supportive marriage, just click here for more information about how to set up a Discovery Session with me.
