"Cultivating an 'attitude of gratitude' has been linked to better health, sounder sleep, less anxiety and depression, higher long-term satisfaction with life and kinder behavior toward others, including romantic partners....But what if you’re not the grateful sort? I sought guidance from the psychologists who have made gratitude a hot research topic. Here’s their advice for getting into the holiday spirit — or at least getting through dinner Thursday.
Start with “gratitude lite.” Keep a journal listing five things for which you feel grateful, like a friend’s generosity, something you've learned, a sunset you've enjoyed.
Don’t confuse gratitude with indebtedness.
Don’t counterattack.
Contemplate a higher power.
Try it on your family. "Do one small and unobtrusive thoughtful or generous thing for each member of your family on Thanksgiving. Say thank you for every thoughtful or kind gesture. Express your admiration for someone’s skills or talents."
Share the feeling.
Try a gratitude visit. Write a 300-word letter to someone who changed your life for the better. Be specific about what the person did and how it affected you. Deliver it in person, preferably without telling the person in advance what the visit is about. When you get there, read the whole thing slowly to your benefactor.
Go for deep gratitude.
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