#FindTheBeauty and gratitude daily. This project uses sticks found outside, leaves cut from scrap paper, and calling to mind what we are thankful for. Positive psychology and mental health researchers in the past few decades have established an overwhelming connection between gratitude and good health! Keeping a gratitude journal causes less stress, improves the quality of sleep, and builds emotional awareness (Seligman, Steen, Park and Peterson, 2005). Read more on the positive effects of gratitude here.
Going back to our Painted Jar Project, you can use that vase to hold your gratitude tree. After we make our leaves out of construction paper, scrapbook paper, or any other paper you have around the house, we will ask participants to think about what they are grateful for, and then write them on each leaf. Leaves are then attached with string to a branch. Add to your tree daily or weekly to reap the benefits of gratitude.
This instructional video session will end with a meditation session. Mindfulness has a multitude of health benefits; learn more here. Be sure to take a photo of your finished project and share it with us using #FindTheBeauty or enter it in our Find the Beauty contest on Facebook by emailing it to contactus@palsforhealing.org. Learn more about the contest here.
Items Needed:
Small sticks or branches
A leaf or a few leaves to trace
Hole punch
Cardstock, colored paper, or any paper from around the house
Scissors (Need a new pair?)
Markers, paint, crayons, or oil pastels
String or yarn
Directions:
Cut some short pieces of string, twine or yarn. Trace leaves onto paper using a light pencil. Write what you are grateful for, and cut those out. Punch a hole into each leaf and tie with string or yarn to each branch.