What are you thankful for?
It’s a pretty straightforward question, but not something we truly ask ourselves every day. While many of us understand the importance of being thankful, sometimes we forget to be grateful for the little things.
That’s the benefit of a gratitude jar.
Below, we explain what a gratitude jar is, how to make one and why you should consider creating one of your own with your family.
What Is a Gratitude Jar?
A gratitude jar is a fun way to create a visual reminder of all the blessings in our lives. Essentially, it’s is a place to record and store everything you’re thankful for. Whether it’s a person, a kind act or a positive detail in your everyday life, write it down on a slip of paper and stick it in your gratitude jar. Over time, you’ll amass a jar full of all the blessings in your life.
Why Create a Gratitude Jar?
A gratitude jar is more than just a fun side project, but something that can make you happier. See proof from this Harvard Medical School article:
In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity and build strong relationships.
Creating a gratitude jar is an easy, quick and inexpensive way to practice gratitude. It’s a way to build a new habit of thankfulness and only takes a few seconds a day.
Writing down what you are thankful for is more powerful than just thinking about it, and seeing the slips of paper in your jar grow is a physical reminder of just how good life really is.
How to Create a Gratitude Jar
1. Find the Perfect Container
First, you need to get a jar. It can be a mason or storage jar. Just make sure it’s big enough for you to fill with small slips of paper.
2. Decorate Your Gratitude Jar
Once you have your jar, it’s time to make it your own. Unleash your inner creative. Consider decorating your jar with stickers or stamps. Whatever you’re feeling, personalize your gratitude jar the way you want to.
3. Get Small Sheets of Paper and a Pen
After your jar is decorated, you’ll need small sheets of paper to write down what you’re grateful for. These sheets can be simple Post-it Notes, pieces of craft paper or scrapbook paper. Use whatever will make you smile when you look at it.
4. Start Writing Down What You’re Thankful For
Once you’ve decorated your jar and have your pen and pieces of paper, you’re ready to start writing down what you’re thankful for. Put your jar and sheets of paper in a highly visible location that you frequent, like your kitchen counter, bathroom vanity or laundry room.
Set a goal to write down one thing you are thankful for each day and add the slip to your gratitude jar. Try to be as specific as possible. Consider adding to your jar first thing in the morning or before you go to bed.
You can also encourage other members of your household and guests to write down what they are thankful for and add it to the jar.
Want More Resources for Creating Positivity in Your Life?
A gratitude jar is one of the most powerful things you can do to focus on the positives in your life. It’s a tangible object you can watch grow over time. If you’re interested in more projects that help create positivity, subscribe to our blog, and get access to grief support and memorialization resources.
