We spend more time reflecting on the things we are grateful for as Thanksgiving nears. What if gratitude was not something we just talked about with our families in November, but something that we actively practiced throughout the year.
This is the world Ricky Mendez hopes to live in. Mendez, a self-described “gratitude enthusiast” who is also an implementational speaker, focuses on gratitude in his work in mindset planning and prosperity planning. Mendez is even writing a book for children about the subject.
He says, “If you’re looking to make a difference in the world, there’s no better place to start than with children.” They’re like , the eternal optimists. They’re not surrounded with negativity or pessimism.
Mendez and I sat down to discuss gratitude, particularly as it relates our little ones, and to discover some simple steps that you can take to encourage children to be grateful from a young age. These skills can also be used at any age. Here are four tips from Mendez
1. Discuss gratitude.
It may seem obvious, but it is important to get everyone on the exact same page about gratitude. “With kids, I just ask: Do you know
2. It’s okay to make small gestures!
Do not feel that your children should begin by expounding on their gratitude. They don’t have to do this in a long, drawn-out piece. Mendez suggests that children should spend 30 seconds per day reflecting on what they are thankful for, rather than spending hours on it and never returning to it. Mendez states, “It’s going to force them down a rabbit hole they’re likely not used to going down. This means change, and change is difficult to our brains because it’s going contrary to what we’re used too.” It will be easier to manage small steps over time.
3. Be consistent.
As with all lifestyle changes, adopting the gratitude mindset may take some time. Mendez states that children will get excited when they talk about the new thing at first. However, anyone who has tried to keep a healthy diet or a gym regime up and running knows that it can be difficult to maintain the new habits over time .
It’s important not to let the excitement fade too quickly. Mendez calls it “fun work”, but it’s also the hard part. A routine can be helpful. Perhaps dinnertime is when you and your children talk about how grateful you are for the day. Or maybe it’s time to talk about it before you go to bed every night.
4. Keep your spirit high and follow their lead.
You want to raise children who are grateful. It’s easier to be full of gratitude. Mendez states, “To expand that message we must expand ourselves.” It’s important that your children talk about their gratitude and you ask them questions to increase their enthusiasm. These conversations might be emotionally charged and will require adults to reflect on their feelings of gratitude. Mendez states, “I believe that’s where real changes can be made.”
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