--- title: Upgrade Thanksgiving With a Gratitude Visit from Positive Psychology description: Add gratitude to your Thanksgiving feast with this positive psychology exercise from Martin Seligman image: https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/hs-fs/file-14054815-jpg/images/thanksgiving_plate.jpg --- [![](https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/hs-fs/hubfs/scm%20header%203.jpg?width=655&height=124&name=scm%20header%203.jpg)](http://Julia%20Stewart%20Coaching%20&%20Training) Open main menu Close main menu - Training Open the submenu - [Blog](https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/coaching-blog) - [Training](https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/coach-training-programs) - [About Us](https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/about-us) - [Become a Coach](https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/become-a-coach) - [Certification](https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/seven-secrets) - [Find a Coach](https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/find-a-coach) - [Resources](https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/coach-training-resources) [coach training](https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/coaching-blog/topic/coach-training) [gratitude](https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/coaching-blog/topic/gratitude) [Positive Psychology](https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/coaching-blog/topic/positive-psychology) [Martin Seligman](https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/coaching-blog/topic/martin-seligman) # Upgrade Thanksgiving With a Gratitude Visit from Positive Psychology [Julia Stewart](https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/coaching-blog/author/julia-stewart) [Share this blog post on Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=I+found+this+interesting+blog+post&url=https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/coaching-blog/bid/91660/Upgrade-Thanksgiving-With-a-Gratitude-Visit-from-Positive-Psychology) [Share this blog post on Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/coaching-blog/bid/91660/Upgrade-Thanksgiving-With-a-Gratitude-Visit-from-Positive-Psychology) [Share this blog post on LinkedIn](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/coaching-blog/bid/91660/Upgrade-Thanksgiving-With-a-Gratitude-Visit-from-Positive-Psychology) ![](https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/hs-fs/file-14054815-jpg/images/thanksgiving_plate.jpg) ![Positive Psychology](https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/hs-fs/file-14054815-jpg/images/thanksgiving_plate.jpg) *Article by [Julia Stewart, MCC](https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/coach-julia-stewart/)* I've often said that I wish Thanksgiving was a little more about [gratitude](https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/coaching-blog/bid/17661/Gratitude-Don-t-Miss-It) and a little less about food. Then again, the food is pretty awesome... So I'm definitely all for keeping the food! But... Here's a way to add gratitude to a Thanksgiving feast that's both meaningful and memorable. And according to [positive pychology](https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/coaching-blog/bid/90667/What-is-Positive-Psychology-Coaching-Anyway) research, this exercise will help you feel immediately happier and...you'll continue to feel happier even six months from now. That's something to be thankful for! I'm talking about the Gratitude Visit, which evolved out of [Martin Seligman's](https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/coaching-blog/bid/88808/Life-Coaching-Martin-Seligman-on-Positive-Psychology-at-TED) Penn State course on positive psychology. The holiday season is the perfect time to do a positive psychology visit, because so many of us are traveling anyway. I dare you to add it too your Thanksgiving feast. You'll be glad you did! Here's how: - Think of someone who has helped you in some life-changing way, but who you have never sufficiently thanked. - Then sit down with a pen and paper, or sit at your computer, and write out specifically what that person did for you, the impact it had on your life and how thankful you are.  - Then travel to that person’s home, or invite them to yours, but don’t tell them about the gratitude visit in advance. An email or telephone call is not enough; you must do this in person. - When you are together, whether alone or among others, take out the gratitude story that you previously wrote and read it aloud to them, making frequent eye contact as you read. Then give the story to them to keep. - That’s it! Imagine the emotional impact such a strong acknowledgment will have on the person you’re thanking. Interestingly, positive psychologists tell us that the impact on the person who does the thanking is most dramatic. What more beautiful custom to add to your Thanksgiving tradition?  This exercise was taken from my course titled, [Introduction to Positive Psychology for Coaches](https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/positive-psychology-certificate/). Click the button below to learn more and join the next one. [![Learn About Positive Psychology for Coaches](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/41761/1a5037a3-a8db-4f3e-a87e-c0d9ac087433.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/41761/1a5037a3-a8db-4f3e-a87e-c0d9ac087433) What's your favorite way to express gratitude? *Image by Moonlightbulb* ### Leave a Comment ## Related Articles [![](https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/hs-fs/file-30606441-jpg/images/strength_by_official_u.s._navy_imagery.jpg)](https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/coaching-blog/bid/96267/Positive-Psychology-Coaching-When-Is-a-Strength-Really-a-Weakness) [Coaching](https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/coaching-blog/topic/coaching) [Coaches](https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/coaching-blog/topic/coaches) [ICF](https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/coaching-blog/topic/icf) [Coach Certification](https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/coaching-blog/topic/coach-certification) [Coaching Certificate](https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/coaching-blog/topic/coaching-certificate) [Positive Psychology](https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/coaching-blog/topic/positive-psychology) [positive psychology coaching](https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/coaching-blog/topic/positive-psychology-coaching) [Strengths](https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/coaching-blog/topic/strengths) ### [Positive Psychology Coaching: When Is a Strength Really a Weakness?](https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/coaching-blog/bid/96267/Positive-Psychology-Coaching-When-Is-a-Strength-Really-a-Weakness) **Positive psychology turns the traditional psychology of illness on its head by redefining mental health.** Instead of cataloging symptoms of mental illness (which... [Julia Stewart](https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/coaching-blog/author/julia-stewart) [Read More](https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/coaching-blog/bid/96267/Positive-Psychology-Coaching-When-Is-a-Strength-Really-a-Weakness) [![Positive Psychology Coach: Happiness is a choice](https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/hubfs/positive%20psychology%20coach%20-%20happiness%20is%20a%20choice.jpg)](https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/coaching-blog/bid/112084/positive-psychology-coach-happiness-is-a-choice) [Become a Certified Coach](https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/coaching-blog/topic/become-a-certified-coach) [Certified Positive Psychology Coach](https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/coaching-blog/topic/certified-positive-psychology-coach) [Positive Psychology](https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/coaching-blog/topic/positive-psychology) [positive psychology coaching](https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/coaching-blog/topic/positive-psychology-coaching) ### [Positive Psychology Coach: Happiness is a Choice](https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/coaching-blog/bid/112084/positive-psychology-coach-happiness-is-a-choice) **[Positive psychology](https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/coaching-blog/bid/110298/Positive-Psychology-Coaching-10-Amazing-Discoveries-About-Gratitude) research is clear:** when you embrace [positivity](https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/coaching-blog/bid/94238/Positive-Psychology-25-Fun-Facts-About-Love-2-0), stay curious, are forgiving, learn from mistakes, feel grateful, look for what's right rather... [Julia Stewart](https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/coaching-blog/author/julia-stewart) [Read More](https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/coaching-blog/bid/112084/positive-psychology-coach-happiness-is-a-choice) #### Important Links - [Coaching Blog](https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/coaching-blog) - [Certified Positive Psychology Coach Program](https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/certified-positive-psychology-coach-program) - [Certified Neuroscience Coach Program](https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/certified-neuroscience-coach-program) #### About Us - [About Us](https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/about-us) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Julia Stewart", "url" : "https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/coaching-blog/author/julia-stewart" }, "datePublished" : "2012-11-19T22:12:00.000Z", "headline" : "Upgrade Thanksgiving With a Gratitude Visit from Positive Psychology", "image" : [ "https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/hs-fs/file-14054815-jpg/images/thanksgiving_plate.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/coaching-blog/bid/91660/Upgrade-Thanksgiving-With-a-Gratitude-Visit-from-Positive-Psychology", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.schoolofcoachingmastery.com/hubfs/scm%20header%203.jpg" }, "name" : "Julia Stewart Coaching & Training" } } ```