Gratitude Trees:
A Contemplative Arts Activity
In this activity, you reflect on all the things you are grateful for in each aspect of your life. You then place these things on a your gratitude tree. You can use the included worksheet, or draw your own tree.
Please enjoy this contemplative arts activity from our November Contemplative Arts Gathering.
What are you grateful for?
Sometimes you just need to step back and think about all the things in life for which you are grateful. A regular practice of gratitude can help shift your perspective towards the good that is in your life. This can be especially useful, since as humans we do have a slight tendency to focus on the negative sometimes.
Activity
In this activity, you will engage in a meditative art project. The goal is to practice gratitude for all the good things in your life. If you are not comfortable drawing your own gratitude tree, you may use this worksheet. However, if you are feeling creative, draw your own tree using any medium in which you feel comfortable (colored pencil, crayons, markers, etc.)
Meditation
Close your eyes and relax your body. Cultivate a feeling of gratitude. Breathe it in, and feel your heart expand. Exhale gratitude out into the world.
Think about the various areas of your life. Think about your past, your present, and even your future. Consider the following: What are you grateful in each of these realms? What brings you joy? Fulfillment? Contentment?
Be specific in considering each area of your life.
- Home
- Family
- Friends
- Career
- Spirituality
- Health
- Finance
- Hobbies
Also think if there are things you are grateful for that don’t fall into any of these categories. It is all good.
Now, take a few more breathes and mentally step back to look again at your life as a whole. Feel gratitude. Let that feeling fill you up.
When you are ready, return to the room and to your activity. Draw your tree, or use the activity sheet below to create your gratitude tree.