• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Amy Hoogervorst

Integrative Health and Wellness Coach

  • WHAT IS HEALTH COACHING?
  • ABOUT AMY
  • SERVICES
  • BLOG
    • FAITH AND SPIRITUALITY
    • MIND-BODY CONNECTION
    • MOVEMENT, EXERCISE AND REST
    • NUTRITION
    • PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
    • PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
    • RELATIONSHIPS AND COMMUNICATION
  • GET STARTED
    • SCHEDULE A FREE CALL
    • ACCESS FREE RESOURCES
    • VIEW ARCHIVED VIDEOS

Feb 8, 2019
MIND-BODY CONNECTION· RELATIONSHIPS AND COMMUNICATION

Practice Gratitude for and to Yourself

One way to practice gratitude to your self is to write yourself a thank you letter.

When we practice gratitude, it’s good for our emotional and physical health, with recent studies reporting benefits such as less stress, better sleep, fewer aches and pains, and better heart health.

But how often do we practice gratitude toward our self?

There are many ways to practice gratitude, of course, from saying thank you to making lists and writing letters.

Martin Seligman, the founding father of Positive Psychology, suggests trying a Gratitude Visit. The directions are simple: to recall the face of someone still alive, who years ago did something or said something that changed your life for the better, but to whom you’ve never said thank you.

Write them a letter (read full directions here) and then plan to deliver it in person.

“Gratitude can make your life happier and more satisfying,” Seligman says. “When we feel gratitude, we benefit from the pleasant memory of a positive event in our life.”

Our tendency is to think too much about what goes wrong and not enough about what goes right in our lives, he says. By dwelling on the positive, including making a Gratitude Visit, we can counter this and find greater happiness.

Practice Gratitude to Your Self, Also

So when we think about thanking someone who’s changed our life and never been properly thanked, who could that be?

I can recall teachers, mentors, and even some friends to whom I could write letters. Probably you can come up with someone, too.

But is it possible that you also are someone who needs to hear a sincere thank you from yourself?

Who made the choices along the way that got you where you are today? How have you taken care of you? What decisions, big or small, have made you uniquely you, your life uniquely yours?

Perhaps you could write a letter to yourself, expressing your gratitude – even if it’s just for choosing the salad over the fries once, a week ago. Start small, and see what appears.

I know I can be my own worst critic sometimes, focusing on what I should have done or said instead of being grateful for what I accomplished or simply who I am in the world. I need ways to quiet the bully in my mind.

But while writing a thank you letter to yourself might seem awkward, it could be healing. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves that more is right with us than is wrong with us.

Writing such a letter doesn’t mean we ignore our shortcomings. But instead of dwelling on the shortcomings, we take an opportunity to dwell on the positive. Sometimes it’s giving ourselves the affirmation that we seek from others.

What do you think? Can you practice gratitude by writing your self a letter?

A template for your letter

If you need help getting started, find a quiet place and use the following template to help prompt your writing.

Dear ___________,

It’s easy to focus on how you don’t __________________, __________________, and _______________. But there’s also so much you DO that is good: ________________________________________________________________________.

And no matter what you do, or don’t do, you’re always worthy of love, and respect, and gratitude.

Thank you for taking care of you in these ways: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.

Thank you for: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.

And even though it didn’t seem like something worthy of gratitude when it happened, thank you for ___________________________________________________.

It’s part of what makes you you.

Finally, thank you for showing up authentically in this letter. You are of infinite worth, the handiwork of God.

With love,

____________

After you’ve written your letter, tuck it away for review later, or seal it and ask a friend to mail it to you a year from now.

What was this process like for you? Hokey, or helpful? Send me a note and let me know.

Hi! I’m Amy Hoogervorst, an integrative health coach, and I’m glad you’re here! If you’d like more information, ideas, and inspiration for a healthier you, I invite you to subscribe to my Well Check, delivered free directly to your email inbox.

Tweet
Share
Pin

Don’t Miss out

Join our newsletter to get all the latest!

Previous Post: « I Am: Two of the Most Powerful Words
Next Post: Can I Reset My Circadian Clock for Better Sleep? »

Primary Sidebar

MEET AMY

Hi! I'm Amy Hoogervorst, a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach, integrative health coach, and creative entrepreneur offering grace and space for a healthier you. Read More…

Amy Hoogervorst is a ReCODE 2.0 Certified Health Coach. Badge is blue and green lettering primarily on a white background

Latest on the Blog

A Bredesen ReCODE coach helps people concerned about or living with cognitive decline implement lifestyle changes that are part of the Bredesen protocol. Colorful image depicts a brain with many synapses and activity

Recently I trained as a Bredesen ReCODE Coach, adding to my professional knowledge base and credentials as I look to help anyone concerned about their brain health. But my desire to prevent and reverse cognitive decline goes beyond a professional achievement. It’s deeply personal, too. About five years ago, someone close to me received a […]

Let’s Connect

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Latest on Instagram

Scenes from two hikes in the last week - with tons Scenes from two hikes in the last week - with tons of wildflowers! Today is the last day of National Wildflower Week, which raises awareness of the critical role these beauties play in sustaining biodiversity. Native wildflowers have relationships with local wildlife, supporting bees, birds, and butterflies for a living landscape. You also can create your own living landscape with native plants that will thrive in your area.

Find a Native Plant Society near you for more information, and shop native plant nurseries.
Sharing a few glimpses from the retreat I organize Sharing a few glimpses from the retreat I organized and facilitated last weekend in central North Carolina. What a lovely time apart from the world, yet in community. (Everyone else seemed to appreciate it, too!) A couple of days ago I received an email from a participant who said, "You made us all feel safe, welcomed and cared for emotionally and physically and I greatly appreciate that." 🥰

All of these participants said they'd do it again, too. We'd love for you to join us, when it happens. Next date TBD.

 I announce upcoming events and opportunities first through my WellCheck e-newsletter, so if you're not on my email list, that's the place to start. 💌 Visit amyhoogervorst.com/subscribe to add yourself!

#graceandspaceforahealthieryou #wellnessweekend #healingrhythms #retreat #mindbodyspirit #timeapart #timeforyou #lifepractices #integrativehealthcoach 
#compassion #connection
I'm no longer calling this exercise a Suitcase Car I'm no longer calling this exercise a Suitcase Carry. This kettlebell does not have wheels and my suitcase does! The 2023 name of this exercise is the Target Basket Carry.

Gym days = practice for real life situations. Go get it done, friends! You'll thank yourself.

#gymlife #practice #thisislife #strengthtraining #trainingforlife #strongwomen #agewell #kettlebell #carrythatweight #integrativehealthcoach #graceandspaceforahealthieryou
A Puppy PSA: No amount of caffeine (or sugar) can A Puppy PSA: No amount of caffeine (or sugar) can make up for a poor night's sleep.

Both caffeine and sugar, as well as a room that's too warm or bright or noisy, can interfere with sleep.

The good news, if your sleep wasn't up to par last night? You get another opportunity for quality rest tonight. (Or most anytime you want, if you're this guy.)

How can you set yourself up for success tonight? Think through what you already know about your habits and sleep hygiene. What's one small thing you might be able to do differently today or this evening that could lead to better sleep?

And in the interim ... Who else wants a nap? ✋🏼

#thursdaythoughts #psafromthedog #psafromahealthcoach #sleep #naptime #takecareofyou #restandrestore #westielife #selfcare #healthcoach #selfcareisntselfish #graceandspaceforahealthieryou
Follow on Instagram

Tags

accountability anxiety best self books challenge choices coaching dreams exercise faith faith and sweat fitness friends goals grace and space for a healthier you habits health health coaching healthy eating healthy food healthy lifestyle holidays inflammation memories mindfulness mindset movement nutrition perseverance personal growth PhotoOrganize Me photos recipes resources rest self-care sleep social media stewardship stories stress sugar wellness what i learned Youngevity
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • DISCLOSURES
  • CONTACT
© 2023 Amy Hoogervorst - All Rights Reserved

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings.

Amy Hoogervorst
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.