The Beautiful Secret to Being a Happy Mom
I don’t know a single person who doesn’t have happiness as a goal in their life. All humans have different ideas of happiness but the outcome is similar. We want to feel joy, contentedness, pleasure, and satisfaction! As a mother, you can focus a lot of your energy on your kid’s happiness. It can be hard to switch gears and find the time to focus on your happiness. There are endless ways to create happiness as I already said but the quickest and easiest way for a busy my is by creating a habit of gratitude. The big beautiful secret to being a happy mom is practicing gratitude.
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Creating Gratitude habits can be as different as the many ways we chose happiness. Some people find happiness in the endorphin dump of a good run, some need that treat-yo-self time, while others ming want to get lost in a good book. The cool part about gratitude is you use all the things that make you happy. Gratitude is being grateful, giving thanks, and creating a positive feeling by focusing on those things that make you happy.
A habit of gratitude can be practiced by thinking, writing, and even saying thankful thoughts. Building a habit of gratitude into your day is as easy and important as Brushing Your Teeth!
If you don’t want to write or say it- just think about it!
Take a few comments when you are brushing your teeth to think about people, places, and things that make you happy. Some Ideas to help you remember this ritual every day:
- Title your wake-up alarm with something reminding. “Gratitude Alarm, I am thankful for…, or Attitude of Gratitude.”
- Write with a dry erase marker on the bathroom mirror.
- Grab your favorite quote about gratutude and frame it over your sink! Think it while you clean and cook.
Some of my favorite Quotes about Gratitude:
“I don’t have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness- It’s right in front of me if I’m paying attention and practicing gratitude.”- Brene Brown
“How do you say thank you for sunshine or health… for clear days or gentle rain… for happiness, joy, or love? You say it by sharing what you have. You say it by making the world a better place in which to live. ” -Thomas D. Willhite
“Today I am grateful for all that I am, all that I have, and all that is.” -Unknown
Writing those Thankful Thoughts Down is even more Powerful.
This means you have to think about it 3 times. You think it, you write it, and then you read it. Compiling a thankful note each day is awesome. It’s a written record of all thing things that make you happy. If you are having a hard time thinking of something to add to your Gratitude habit- going back and reading some from previous days can be inspiring. This is such a powerful tool so I have created several mom-minded gratitude journals. I want to inspire you in the habit of gratitude. Each page in the journal has some meaningful and relevant gratitude prompts or mom motivation.
If you don’t want to write your gratitude in journal form try these:
- post-its
- blank paper
- create a file in your computer
- Chek out these Gratuitude Apps! https://positivepsychology.com/gratitude-apps/
Be sure to put your writing tools in place you will remember to keep the routine.
- Your work space.
- The coffee pot.
- Next to your bed.
- Adding a new routine with an old one is an easy way to get it started!
Saying those Thankful Thoughts Aloud is the most Powerful.
Telling those people around you why you are thankful, especially if it is because of them. For some, this is difficult- you might feel shy or self-conscious. The wash of happiness from sharing with someone why you are thankful for them is contagious and strong! It is the true meaning of spreading JOY! Praise for your children or your spouse direct to them or within their earshot is inspiring! Inspiring for them to continue those actions! Sharing with a parent or a mentor how grateful for the effect they had on your life is so fulfilling for both of you. The face-to-face and even voice-to-voice connection we have as people is getting less and less prominent in the age of technology, remote work, etc. Try to add some out loud gratitude practice in your life so you don’t forget the power of connecting in the real world!
Modern Day Ideas for Practicing Your gratitude out loud:
- Tick-Toc, Snap Chat, and Instagram. Record a short thank you and put it out into the universe!
- Leave a Voice Mail.
- Call- OMG people still do this!
- In person! Meetings, Holidays, Dinner time- anytime you are together with those you are most thankful for.
Are You Ready for the Habit of Gratitude?
The next time you are feeling grumpy, unfocused, or overwhelmed- try gratitude. Think it, or write it, or say it. I challenge you to add the practice of gratitude to your everyday routine. Join my Savor the Mom Life Facebook Group and get a new Thankful Prompt every #ThankfulThursday!
Check out my 30 Day Family Thankful Challenge for the month of November to get your whole family into the habit of gratitude.
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