Creating opportunity for a wider perspective helps us recognize when there is more than one option, choice or way of perceiving any given situation.
Setting Intentions Provides a ‘Why’ for the ‘What’
In the beginning of any new year, we hear a lot about resolutions and goal setting. But what is the purpose of these resolutions and promises we make to ourselves? That’s where intention setting comes in.
Grow Your Gratitude with a Gratitude Tree
A few years ago when visiting family for Thanksgiving, we decided to put up a Gratitude Tree. Without much fanfare, the kids and their cousins passed around autumn leaves and markers and asked everyone to share what they were grateful for.
Mindful Activities to Grow Your Gratitude Practice
Gratitude means appreciating what we have instead of worrying about what we don’t have. It may sound simple, but cultivating gratitude takes intention and practice. Here are a few of our favorites ways you and your family can grow your gratitude practice together.
Notice the Good Jar Celebrates Family Kindness
When we notice the good, we’re actively choosing a positive mindset. This is a simple way to grow gratitude — but it takes practice. Start a Notice the Good Jar to regularly notice and celebrate acts of kindness in your family.
Notice & Soak Up the Good In Your Garden
As we move through another week of quarantine in an effort to stem the spread of the coronavirus, I’m definitely feeling the effects of being house-bound and out of physical contact with my extended family and friends. While I’m coming to accept this new normal, I’m also experiencing a pretty consistent level of anxiety (anyone else having a hard time sleeping?).
Peacemaker Thank Yous Connect Gratitude With Peace
Introducing young children to the concept of peace helps them return to those feelings of calm and contentedness when they experience emotional overwhelm. Linking the feeling of peace with a particular person, like a parent, teacher or friend helps reinforce for kids that they’re not alone when they need help regulating.
Moving Meditation: Root to Rise
This moving meditation is to help children visualize the practice of rooting in order to rise. We root to ground, to find strength. We rise as we become heartful, kind to ourselves, others and the world around us.
Toss the Gratitude Ball to Express Thanks
This activity is a variation on the popular ice-breaker game, Toss the Beach Ball, and is wonderful for children of any age range as well as adults. The idea is to inspire young children to think of the small things in their lives they’re grateful for.
