November brings with it cooler weather, leaves of gold and the feeling of thanks in the air. It’s the perfect time to begin a practice of gratitude. You Know Neen is hosting the 2nd Annual 30 Days of Gratitude blog series, a place where the experience of gratitude will be explored and shared. I, along with several other contributors will be sharing our thoughts on all things gratitude.
It’s no secret the recent election has left many of us with feelings of bewilderment, estrangement and confusion. Even if your candidate won the election, the nation is still divided and unrest abounds on the news and social media. More than a few years ago, I intentionally stopped watching the evening news and started selectively reading my news in the mornings.
I chose what I wanted to read based on a ‘need to know’ basis, keeping current and informed, but not embroiled in the negative energy that seems to permeate our news feeds. By making a very conscious effort to monitor what I am taking in via the many screens I have, I’ve been able to put more good in and put more good out into the world.
Last year, I wrote that while I feel better ‘eating clean’ vs. eating burgers and drinking beer, I still do it from time to time. So while I’m not suggesting binge watching the Real Housewives every day, I think it’s ok every now and then. Use the 80/20 rule for what you read and listen to: 80% intellectually and emotionally healthy, 20% guilty pleasure.
I’m grateful there are plenty of mentally healthy sites and blogs to visit to balance out the brain cell crushing ones I enjoy from time to time. Here are some of my favorites:
Greater Good in Action UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, in collaboration with HopeLab, launched Greater Good in Action. Synthesizing hundreds of scientific studies, Greater Good in Action collects the best research-based methods for a happier, more meaningful life—and puts them at your fingertips in a format that’s easy to navigate and digest. All the methods or ‘actions’ are free and rated from easy to moderate in difficulty. These are great ways to begin to change old habits and cultivate new ones.
The action piece details how to build awe, compassion, connection, forgiveness, gratitude, kindness, mindfulness and optimism, to name a few.
mindbodygreen Mindbodygreen describes itself as a lifestyle media brand dedicated to inspiring you to live your best life. They say “…we want to give you everything that’s great for you: mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally, and environmentally — because we believe these pillars of wellness are vital and interconnected. Hence mindbodygreen (one word, not three).”
Kindnessblog “Kindness Blog shares media featuring kindness in all its varied forms.” I love reading the stories from contributors about people who help one another, listen to one another and tell stories about peace, happiness, understanding and love. It’s all about uplifting one another on this site.
Tiny Buddha Tiny Buddha “is about reflecting on simple wisdom and learning new ways to apply it to our complex lives—complete with responsibilities, struggles, dreams, and relationships.” Tiny Buddha has more than 3 million viewers worldwide. You can find quotes, articles, meditations and more at the website and their Facebook page.
Gratitude 365 Journal App Yes there is AN APP FOR A GRATITUDE JOURNAL! If you don’t like to put pen to paper, Gratitude 365 is an easy way to write in your gratitude journal. The app is easy to use and always at your fingertips!
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Related post:
Eleven websites to inspire you
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