the gratitude project

three things to know about gratitude...

I did a deep dive into gratitude recently (classic me), and I learned three things that totally changed how I practice it.

1. Deep > Wide: our brains do better with deep > wide — instead of listing five people you’re grateful for, naming five things you appreciate about one person creates way more actual gratitude.

2. To > About: Gratitude gets stronger when our brain thinks we’re communicating to someone, not just about them.

3. Receiving matters: receiving gratitude is one of the most effective ways to build it, which means when someone tells you why they appreciate you, it strengthens your gratitude pathways, too.

Introducing gratitude cards...

I made these little cards to help me apply all three of these ideas.

I use them to think deeply about why I'm thankful for my people, I write why I’m grateful to each of them, and then they get to receive that gratitude when I share them.

You can use them as place card holders at meaningful dinners or birthday cards, or just a weekly gratitude ritual.