This exercise may sound a little silly. You may be thinking, “A pebble? How can a pebble help me practice gratitude?”
The secret to this exercise is that the pebble is a symbol, a physical object you can use, to remind yourself of what you have.
The instructions are about as simple as instructions can be, be child-like, have fun: just find a pebble!
Make sure to pick a pebble you like, whether you like it because it’s pretty or because it’s smooth, or has an interesting texture, or because you picked it up from a special place. If you have another small object you’d rather use instead, feel free to substitute that for the pebble.
Carry this pebble around in your pocket, leave it on your desk have it somewhere you will see it or can feel it throughout your day, you could even wear it on a chain around your neck or your wrist.
Whenever you see it or touch it, take a moment to pause and think about at least one thing you are grateful for.
It could be something simple like the sun shining down on you in this moment or as large as the job that allows you to feed yourself or your family, that keeps a roof over your head.
Just think of one thing that brings you joy or fulfillment.
When you take the pebble out of your pocket or from your body at the end of the day, take a moment to remember the things that you were grateful for throughout the day.
When you put it on or in your pocket again in the morning, repeat this process to remember what you were grateful for yesterday.
Not only will this help you remember the things you are grateful for, but it can also trigger a mini-mindfulness moment in your day.
It will bring you out of your head and into the present moment, giving you something to focus your attention on. It can also act as a switch to more positive thinking.
When you flip this switch multiple times a day, you will likely find that your average day has become much more positive one instead.
So go on, go and find your pebble…
