Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.
-Melody Beattie-

As those of us who live in the United States move further into the grateful month of November and toward the Thanksgiving holiday this week, thoughts often turn to the topic of gratitude.

You’ve probably heard many of the same suggestions over the years for cultivating gratitude: keep a gratitude journal, write down five things you are thankful for each day, send a thank you note to someone who has touched your life, express gratitude daily to those who serve and bless you. All of these ideas are meant to inspire an attitude of gratitude and help turn our hearts to a focus on those things that we do have and not simply on the things we don’t. Some studies cited by Harvard Health show that when we express gratitude, even if it simply in our minds, we improve happiness, reduce stress, strengthen relationships, and even see benefits to our physical health.

In the iconic Christmas movie Dr. Seuss’s “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” after stealing all the presents from the innocent residents of Whoville and attempting to ruin their Christmas, the Grinch soon experiences a mighty change of heart. After the precocious Cindy Lou Who sees past his prickly, grouchy exterior and shows compassion, acceptance, and love, her example spreads to those in her quirky town and the Grinch finds acceptance and forgiveness at the end of the movie. In fact, his heart is said to have literally grown three sizes that day. The visual of a growing, joyful heart is a beautiful one and can be achieved without first ransacking a neighbor’s Christmas haul. It can be achieved through quiet moments of grateful contemplation.

Here are some questions that may help spark a grateful moment as you ponder on the answers:

Did I wake up this morning blessed with another day, another sunrise, another chance to try again?

Is there a roof over my head, a place to lay my head at night, and food to give me the energy and strength I need to face another day?

Am I engaged in meaningful work? Do I invest in meaningful relationships?

What do I have that brings me joy?

Is there someone who loves me? Someone who believes in me? Someone I love in return?

What’s one kind or thoughtful thing someone did for me recently?

Who is always there for me, and how do I feel about them?

Who has helped me become the person I am today, and what’s the top thing I’d thank them for?

What’s the best thing that happened today so far?

Has anyone done anything recently that made my life easier?

What about today has been better than yesterday?

What made me laugh or smile today?

Have I experienced any blessings in disguise lately—things that didn’t turn out as I’d hoped and yet turned out for the best?

How has technology enhanced my life and my connections recently?

While focusing on the things we can be grateful for does not make the challenges and trials we face go away, it can help put them into perspective and, like the grouchy Grinch who no longer finds delight in stealing joy from others, we can feel our own hearts swell one, two, maybe even three sizes today.

Be someone whose heart swells with Thanksgiving.