Before Breakfast What do you want to be grateful for?
Nov 27, 2025
Explore the proactive side of gratitude! Discover how arranging experiences can lead to deeper appreciation. Dive into research on gratitude during Thanksgiving and the mixed results on its benefits. Laura emphasizes the importance of connecting with others and creating meaningful interactions. Balance appreciation of life’s gifts with recognizing your own actions. Learn practical steps to produce moments of gratitude in your life, enhancing your personal agency.
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Gratitude As An Active Practice
- Gratitude can be proactive rather than just a response to good fortune.
- Laura Vanderkam argues we can intentionally create situations that later inspire thankfulness.
Plan What You'll Be Thankful For
- Decide what you'd like to be thankful for at day's end and take steps to create it.
- Schedule calls, meetups, or polls to arrange the events that will produce gratitude later.
Texting A Friend To Create Connection
- Laura gives the example of texting a far-flung friend to set up a FaceTime and then feeling grateful after talking.
- The small act of reaching out produced a concrete moment to appreciate.