Focus on the Positive Over the Negative
Practicing Gratitude
Being grateful is an important part of our lives, and Thanksgiving serves as a great reminder to express that thanks. Even in the most difficult times, we can find things we’re grateful for to help get us through those challenges. Looking for something to be grateful for, however, can be hard at times. Here are a few ways to find and focus on the good things in life.
accomplished a goal, it’s okay to reward yourself with something small or even write yourself a thank-you note. Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule and eating healthy are also things you should thank yourself for, as you’ve set these healthy habits into your daily routine. Acknowledging what we do right helps us mentally and physically.
KEEP A JOURNAL One of the best ways to fit gratitude into our lives is to keep a journal. Set 5–10 minutes aside to write down things you were grateful for that day. This could be as small as brewing a particularly good cup of coffee that morning or as large as celebrating a promotion — and anything in between. By writing these things down, you’re giving yourself time to focus on the positive rather than the negative. What’s more, if you’re having a rough day, rereading the things you’re grateful for in your journal can help lift your spirits.
APPRECIATE THE GOOD TIMES Things move very quickly these days. Thanks to technology, news travels quickly and trends change in the blink of an eye. We can also travel from place to place faster than ever, which means it’s hard to slow down. Sometimes, we can feel guilty because we think we need to constantly be doing something. However, slowing down at times is crucial in our lives, especially when something good happens. If you feel happy about something, stop and soak in the feeling. Focus on what you’re doing and what you feel in that moment, even for a few minutes, before moving on.
THANK YOURSELF When we focus on “being grateful,” it’s easy to focus on things we’ve received, but it’s also important to remember ourselves. For example, if you
Expressing gratitude and feeling thankful are great to incorporate into our lives; they give us the chance to focus on the good and uplift our spirits.
Have a LAUGH
Cinnamon-Spiced Candied Sweet Potatoes These candied sweet potatoes will make your family beg for more!
Inspired by FoodAndWine.com
Ingredients
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4 lbs orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, peeled and cut crosswise into 2-inch pieces, then cut lengthwise into 1-inch wedges 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
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1 tbsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/4 cup unsalted butter, cubed 4 (2-inch) cinnamon sticks
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Directions
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Bake, turning every 15 minutes, until sweet potatoes are tender and the liquid is syrupy, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and let stand for 10 minutes.
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Preheat oven to 350 F.
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Place sweet potato wedges in a 4-quart baking dish. Sprinkle sugar, salt, and cloves over sweet potatoes. Dot with butter and place cinnamon sticks around sweet potatoes.
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Discard cinnamon sticks and serve.
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