In this episode, I give an example on how to teach a family lesson in your family meetings. I go over important questions like, "Can we be happier if we’re grateful for what we have, instead of thinking about what we don’t have?" and " How can we acquire an attitude of gratitude?", to instill the values you want to teach your children.
Let's talk about a sample family lesson for your family meetings, using gratitude.
Today we’re going to talk about gratitude. Gratitude is being thankful for who you are and for things you have. To begin, let’s each name some of the things for which we’re grateful.
A man named Dale Carnegie once said, “Happiness doesn’t depend on outward conditions. It depends on inner conditions. It isn’t what we have or who we are, or what we are doing that makes us happy or unhappy. It’s what we think about it. For example, two people may be in the same place, doing the same thing, and yet one may be miserable and the other happy. Why? Because of a different mental attitude.”
Can we be happier if we’re grateful for what we have, instead of thinking about what we don’t have? How can we acquire an attitude of gratitude?
As a family, let’s try to be more grateful each day for who we are and for all that we have. Let’s each try to keep an attitude of gratitude. I want you to know that I love and appreciate each one of you, and that I’ll do my best to have more gratitude.
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This is Solutions for Families – where parents come with problems and leave with solutions. I’m Paula Fellingham – thank you for joining me!
Hello and welcome! Today’s episode is a Sample Family Meeting Lesson. I will take you through a short family lesson on gratitude that you can use as inspiration for your own family meetings!
Today we’re going to talk about gratitude. Gratitude is being thankful for who you are and for things you have.
To begin, let’s each name some of the things for which we’re grateful. (The person giving the lesson should now call on one family member at a time, and ask them to name two things they’re grateful for. Some answers might be, “I’m grateful for our house, for our family, for my eyes to see, for my ears to hear, for our dog, our food, Grandma, my teacher, my friends, etc.)
A man named Dale Carnegie once said, “Happiness doesn’t depend on outward conditions. It depends on inner conditions. It isn’t what we have or who we are, or what we are doing that makes us happy or unhappy. It’s what we think about it. For example, two people may be in the same place, doing the same thing, and yet one may be miserable and the other happy. Why? Because of a different mental attitude.”
Can we be happier if we’re grateful for what we have, instead of thinking about what we don’t have? How can we acquire an attitude of gratitude?
When we wake up in the morning, we can choose to think thoughts of gratitude or of ingratitude. If we have an attitude of gratitude, instead of thinking about the unpleasant things we have to do that day we’ll think of ways to be grateful. We’ll think thoughts like, “I’m glad I can get out of bed and walk. I’m grateful that I have food for breakfast, and that I can see this beautiful day. I’m glad I have a place to go today where people need me.”
Do thoughts like those help people be happy? Would other people enjoy being around us because of our good attitude?
I’d like to share with you a poem about gratitude. It’s called “The World Is Mine.”
Today upon a bus, I saw a lovely maid with golden hair
I envied her - she seemed so gay - and I wished I were as fair
When suddenly she rose to leave, I saw her hobble down the aisle
She had one foot and wore a crutch, but as she passed, a smile
Oh God, forgive me when I whine
I have two feet - the world is mine!
And then I stopped to buy some sweets
The lad who sold them was so kind
I talked with him - he said to me
“It’s nice to take with folks like you
You see,” he said, “I’m blind.”
Oh God, forgive me when I whine
I have two eyes - the world is mine!
Then walking down the street
I saw a child with eyes of blue
He stood and watched the others play
It seemed he knew not what to do
I stopped for a moment, then I said
“Why don’t you join the others, dear?”
He looked ahead without a word
And then I knew he could not hear
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine
I have two ears - the world is mine!
With feet to take me where I’d go
With eyes to see the sunset’s glow
With ears to hear what I would know
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine
I’m blessed indeed! The world is mine!
As a family, let’s try to be more grateful each day for who we are and for all that we have. Let’s each try to keep an attitude of gratitude. I want you to know that I love and appreciate each one of you, and that I’ll do my best to have more gratitude.
See- isn't this an easy, uplifting lesson that you can use to teach your children and teenagers the values you want to instill in them? You can choose anything you would like to teach them! This creates a strong family home and teaches your family what is important in your home.
Okay, my friends. Until the next episode, have a beautiful day and please subscribe to my podcast, tell your friends about Solutions for Families, and come see me on paulafellingham.com. As always, I send you my love….
And - if you have a question about something I’ve said or about anything going on in your family – or in your life - I invite you to my free weekly Zoom call! It’s Ask Paula Anything – every Thursday morning at 9am Pacific Time. I share MORE tips and solutions on that call, where you can ask me a question anonymously, or just listen to the others. You’re welcome to email your question and I’ll answer it without saying your name… email AskPaula@PaulaFellingham.com. I love these calls where some people have big breakthrough moments. Just click on ASK PAULA on my website PaulaFellingham.com.