Today’s Thanksgiving Day in the United States, and many people are pausing to celebrate the season of gratitude with their families. 

What makes you feel grateful? Answering this simple question can help shift your mood in seconds. That’s because feeling thankful for what you have changes your view from negative to positive. Once you’re feeling good, it can be difficult to focus on the things that make you unhappy.

It’s easy to take for granted a happy marriage, nurturing friendships, good health, and even the roof over your head, but these aspects of life sustain you every day. Taking a moment to acknowledge and appreciate what’s good in your life can do wonders for your wellbeing.

In fact, studies have shown that a regular gratitude practice can improve your happiness by as much as 25 percent, and keeping a gratitude journal for as little as three weeks can result in better sleep and more energy.

You can start your own gratitude practice with something as simple as saying an affirmation each day. Try it with Integrative Nutrition's gratitude mantras – practice for two weeks, and see how it changes your thinking and outlook on life.

Or, download our special guide: How to Cultivate Gratitude this Holiday Season.

Inside, there are plenty of ideas to spark your creativity and get you thinking about how you can express your thankfulness during the season and beyond.

What will you do to express your gratitude? If you already have a practice, what’s your favorite way to say “thank you”?