Background:
Taking time to reflect on what’s gone well in our lives gives us the gift of gratitude. The world will always show us both good and bad, but if we take time to be thankful for what we do have, we begin to free ourselves from negative influences and find our true purpose.
This activity was first developed by Dr. Martin Seligman, sometimes called the founding father of positive psychology. It’s a letter-writing exercise that he found very successful in helping people feel better about their lives.
(Optional): To get the most out of this, once you’ve written the letter, you can call the person and tell them you’d like to visit, but be vague about the purpose of the meeting; this activity is much more fun when it’s a surprise. When you meet with them, take your time reading your letter to them.
How to decide who to write to:
In his book Flourish, Dr. Seligman describes the first step this way: “Close your eyes. Call up the face of someone still alive who years ago did something or said something that changed your life for the better. Someone who you never properly thanked; someone you could meet face to-face next week. Got a face?”
Who came to mind? Jot their name down.
Your task is to write a letter of gratitude to this person. It should explain what they did for you and how it changed your life. In the letter, tell them what you are doing now, and that you remember what they did.
First, BRAINSTORM what you’ll write by answering these questions.
What did this person do for you?
How did this affect your life?
What are you doing now because of this?
How does this make you feel?
Now, using the above notes, WRITE YOUR GRATITUDE LETTER:
Your letter should be 1-2 pages (double spaced, size 12 font, 1 inch margins).
Be sure to write it in letter format (Dear/To ____ Sincerely ___)
