In the spirit of Thanksgiving, this month’s Warrior Virtue theme is gratitude.

What is gratitude? Gratitude is a feeling of appreciation or thankfulness for kindness or generosity received from someone or something. Last year, UCLA Health published a scientifically backed article discussing the benefits of gratitude. Practicing gratitude can help improve your mood, lessening anxiety and depression. It can even improve your sleep and benefit your heart.

Consider some of the following activities to start practicing gratitude in your day-to-day life:

• Recognize Mentors: Take the time to thank someone who has mentored you and show appreciation for their guidance and support.
• Thank You Notes: A thank you note is sincere, personal, and to-the-point. The world’s best leaders make a point of using thank you notes to build connection and express gratitude toward people who interact with them.
• Meditation: It’s not just for yogis. Meditating on the things that you’re thankful for can help put your life into perspective, especially when you find yourself struggling with a negative mindset.
• Daily Affirmations: Sometimes the only person who can talk you through tough times is you. Taking yourself through a list of what you’re grateful for in your life can set your mood for the entire day ahead.