How To Give Thanks Where It Counts The Most

"What are you thankful for?"

That has to honestly be one of the most loaded questions ever asked around this time of the year. Wouldn't you be inclined to agree with me?

Now, before you say anything, I want you to think about the question to yourself. Do you genuinely know what you're thankful for today? Or are you only going with the cliche responses to keep the conversation short and sweet?

The truth of the matter is when asked this question, you never tend to think about the lessons learned or the accomplishments made on your behalf. It's always about the more general definition of being thankful that isn't shown through the personalized details.

These smaller details are what make your answers to this question more worthwhile, and honestly, meaningful to yourself. So, let's dive into the typical responses of being thankful for the holidays and spruce them up with our personal approaches.

Thankful for Family and Friends

If you're a family-oriented person, then there's a big chance that you've taken the time to say that you're thankful for your friends and family. More notably, though, this is the more sentimental answer that tugs at your heartstrings.

But have you ever thought about why you are thankful for your close group of people?

Scratching the layer of that question would be because your family and friends have always been your close confidants and partners in crime. Diving deeper into the hole would be describing the lessons and feelings associated with these special people.

Maybe you are grateful for the patience your mom has taught you when dealing with specific situations. Or from your best friend, you're thankful that you've inherited a keen eye for details that helps you make better judgments in your professional and personal life.

Their loving and caring nature brings a whole new meaning to security among people that can never be broken or misconstrued. It's a feeling that will forever remain in your mind.

You can even learn these same lessons among romantic and professional relationships as well. I want you to think about this for yourself because it can look like this:

• Being thankful for the caring feeling you gained through your partner's actions and encouraging words.

• Being confident with your thought processes through your manager challenges you to think outside the box.

Thankful for Life

People have always told you that you only live once, right? Therefore, it's imperative to focus on the true meaning of our lives and our purposes on this Earth.

When people often say they're thankful for life, they're usually alluding to the idea of waking up to see another day. Are you viewing your life as the same?

Yes, there's nothing wrong with that thought process at all. However, there's always more to life than just eating, sleeping, and repeating the endless cycle.

Your life is more meaningful than you may realize, too. That's why each person on this Earth has their own personality, interests, pet peeves, and much more. That alone is something to be thankful for during the holiday season: our individuality.

Plus, let's not forget the various life experiences we endure daily. Most people could only imagine being where you are now, while you're also striving to become a better version of yourself any chance you can.

Isn't that such a fantastic way to view how we can be more thankful for living life?

Thankful for My Job

No one ever said that landing a job was a simple process. In fact, depending on the type of job you want to land, there will be plenty of obstacles that stand in your way and will test you to see if you're willing to endure it all for that position.

Then, once you land that job, you begin to feel thankful for the opportunity placed upon you. It's a fantastic feeling.

Now, though, I want you to think on the flip side. Are you thankful more for the opportunity itself or the chance to bring in more money?

I ask that because most people who say they're thankful for their new place of employment say that because of the money they'll earn. Although this is something to be grateful for, there's more to the world of working than just making money.

A job opportunity of any kind is the perfect way to reveal more about what you value in your life. That, in turn, unlocks a new level of thankfulness that adds to your growing character.

Do you still not see how your new job can cause you to become more thankful? Here are a few scenarios that show how that can be:

• Having the opportunity to collaborate on a massive project for your company.

• Being recognized for all your hard work to keep the company afloat.

• Meeting amazing people at work that you can add to your close friend's group.

• Learning a new life skill from your job that you can utilize in your personal life.

Thankful for My Health

There's no doubt that recently, health has been on everyone's mind. Whether that's through keeping up their immune systems or cutting out bad habits, millions of people are on a mission to live happier and healthier.

Of course, being thankful for your health is something you cannot take for granted. Without your health, there's not a chance you'd be where you are at this moment.

But what if I told you that there's also more to health than watching your figure or keeping track of the calories you eat a day?

Yes, it's true! Most people are too busy getting caught up in their physical health they neglect to recognize the other types, which include:

• Mental health

• Emotional health

• Spiritual health

• Intellectual health

• Financial health

Health is wealth, but we're not talking about monetary currency as the outcome. Instead, we're talking about the peaceful feeling that overcomes you from focusing on these various aspects of your well-being.

Have you been focusing on these lately?

Giving Thanks Where It Counts The Most

For the holiday season, I want to impose a challenge on you. Today, I want you to eliminate the fundamental question of what you're thankful for in your life.

Instead, let's spruce the question up with more detailed questions that will allow you to think about your experiences and outcomes:

1. What aspects of my life have changed for the better this year?

2. Have I made an impact on others? What are they saying about how I've helped them?

3. Have I added on to my life skills recently? How am I using them to continue and improve my life?

4. Are my relationships thriving?

5. Have I shown my gratitude to those around me recently? How can I do that today?

Not only should you participate in this challenge, but you should also be honest with yourself. There's so much you can be thankful for in this world that there is never a right or wrong answer.

But most importantly, be thankful for the rest you'll receive and the opportunity to spend time with your loved ones. Happy holidays!