Here we are in the month of Thanksgiving, so it’s time to bring the subject of gratitude to your consciousness again!

Earlier this month, my dear friend Amber (of Kingfisher Coaching and Retreats) and I taught an afternoon workshop we called The How & Why of Establishing a Gratitude Practice.

A few women joined us for a look beyond the buzzword “gratitude,” to explore what it truly means and how it can affect our lives.

Gratitude is the act of noticing and appreciating all the good things in your life. So from there, a gratitude practice is training yourself to notice and appreciate positive things, then being thankful for them.

In theory, it’s pretty simple, but training yourself to focus on finding the positive, instead of the negative things going on around you, takes practice and commitment.

Defining what gratitude isn’t is equally important.

A gratitude practice is NOT:

• • Denial. We’re not ignoring negative things necessarily, just not giving them as much energy/focus. Or are putting them in perspective.
  • Being a Pollyanna, “Everything is always great!”. Sure, I believe gratitude leads to positivity and optimism, but it doesn’t mean we’re that way 24/7.
  • Wearing rose colored glasses: An optimistic perception of something, often thinking of it as better than it actually is.
  • Dismissing bad things with “at least…”  (You broke your leg? Oh well, at least you’re alive.) It’s okay to acknowledge how much it sucks to have a broken leg. Then look around and notice the friends who are visiting, the beautiful flowers someone sent, the novel you can finish or the Netflix show you can binge on while you’re on bed rest.

It is totally okay to acknowledge when we’re feeling low, angry, sick, sad. It’s about acknowledging those feelings without wallowing in them for an unhealthy extent.

As part of the workshop, we discussed books on the subjects of gratitude, happiness, and habit development, particularly those which have been helpful on our own journeys. I’m sharing that list today, for you to explore if you’re looking for some inspiration  and guidance!

8 Books To Inspire Your Gratitude Practice

The Happiness Project – Gretchen Rubin   (and Happier at Home)

The Joy of Appreciative Living – Jacqueline Kelm

29 Gifts – Cami Walker

Good Morning – Brook Noel

You Are a Badass – Jen Sincero

The Secret – Rhonda Byrne

Grateful: The Transformative Power of Giving Thanks  – Diana Butler Bass

Each of these books has something different to offer. Some are more fact based, others based on anecdotes and life experiences.
Have any of these books helped you? Or are there others you would recommend?