Today's Action Step:
Find a Gratitude Rock

Want to improve your mood with gratitude but having difficulty remembering to practice each day? A gratitude rock can help.

 

  1. Go for a walk to find your rock; paying attention to sights, sounds, and smells as you walk.

  2. Select a rock that feels special to you and that you would not mind carrying with you. 

  3. Hold the rock in your hands, close your eyes and think of one thing you are grateful for, such as your family, having food, or job security.

  4. After choosing one thing, think of up to five reasons you are grateful for it. For example, you may be grateful for food because it fills your stomach, gives you energy to run, and satisfies your taste buds.

  5. Keep this rock in your bedroom or carry it with you wherever you go.

  6. Each time you see it, think of one thing you are grateful for with up to 5 details.

Day 90 of 90

 

Did you know that incorporating a daily gratitude practice in your day can have benefits on your mental and physical health? It may help improve your mood, self-esteem and relationships with others. Gratitude can be defined as showing appreciation for something or someone. It is acknowledging all that we feel fortunate to have in our lives.

 

Expressing gratitude can occur in a few minutes. One way to dive deeper into your gratitude is to think specifically about why you are grateful for the person or thing.  Connecting back to the reasons you enjoy having each person or thing in your life may help you feel an even greater appreciation for all that you have.  During our busy days, it is often easy to forget to practice gratitude.  Having an item that serves as a daily reminder, such as a gratitude rock, may be beneficial.

Parent Practice Tip:

Remind your child(ren) to practice gratitude each day. At the end of a day, ask your child(ren) if they have practiced gratitude that day yet. If they have not, spend a few minutes discussing something they are grateful for and why.

To Learn More About This Topic:

  1. Guided Walking Meditation
  2. Short Animated Gratitude Video

About This Program

Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to create safer and more loving communities through groundbreaking next-generation social and emotional learning (SEL) programs that are free of cost and suited for all stages of life. We have partnered with the Santoro Foundation and the School Mental Health Collaborative at the University of South Florida to bring you the ChooSELove To Thrive series.

Over the next 3 months, the easy and actionable daily tips we deliver will be based on the simple, yet powerful formula upon which our Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement programs are created: the Choose Love Formula  Courage + Gratitude + Forgiveness + Compassion = Choosing Love. We will offer additional information about each tip, along with supporting lessons and/or videos, on this website.

How Will These Daily Action Steps Help?

Here are just a few of the scientifically-proven benefits of practicing the Choose Love Formula:

Courage

  • Less anxiety and stress
  • Less fearful (in the present and future)
  • Enhanced self-esteem
  • Improved ability to express oneself and one’s feelings
  • Increased self-awareness
  • Willingness to try difficult tasks

Gratitude

  • Positive attitude towards self and others
  • Improved attitude about school and learning
  • Showing appreciation and kindness towards self and others
  • Increased mindfulness
  • Ability to see other perspectives and show empathy

Forgiveness

  • Healthier relationships and deeper connections
  • Better emotional self-regulation
  • Less aggression and anger
  • Better able to handle personal/social issues that arise
  • Improved resilience
  • Improved decision-making skills
  • Heightened self-management

Compassion-in-ACTION

  • Enhanced connections and relationships
  • Able to respond in a loving manner
  • More caring and concern shown to others
  • Improved social skills
  • Social and Moral Awareness

What Is “SEL?”

Social and emotional learning (SEL) is the process of developing the self-awareness, self-control, and interpersonal skills that are vital for school, work, and life success.

People with strong social-emotional skills are better able to cope with everyday challenges and benefit academically, professionally, and socially.

From effective problem-solving to self-discipline, from impulse control to emotion management and more, SEL provides a foundation for positive, long-term effects on kids, adults, and communities.

Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement has created a next-generation SEL program that includes all of the traditionally-recognized components of social and emotional learning PLUS cutting edge developments in neuroscience, mindfulness and positive psychology that we believe is essential for addressing the full scope of emotional and behavioral needs.

To learn more about our no-cost, next-generation programs, click here.

Each day, share your SEL-in-action shots with us on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook using #ChooSELoveSELfie.  Let’s show the web what the world can look like if we all Choose Love!

USE HASHTAG #ChooSELoveSELfie ~ 

THE STORY BEHIND THE MOVEMENT

Choose Love Movement is inspired by 6-year-old Jesse Lewis, his final acts of love, and his mother’s path of forgiveness after Jesse was killed in a school shooting.

© 2020 Choose Love Movement All rights reserved

THE STORY BEHIND THE MOVEMENT

Choose Love Movement is inspired by 6-year-old Jesse Lewis, his final acts of love, and his mother’s path of forgiveness after Jesse was killed in a school shooting.

© 2020 Choose Love Movement All rights reserved