Three Good Things (3GT)

Gratitude is a sure-fire way to increase good feelings and break out of the blahs. In fact, research shows the consistent practice of grateful habits boosts mood long-term. (Bob Emmons shares these findings in Thanks!: How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier) Frankly, gratitude one of the least-expensive most-valuable gifts you can give to yourself and your family.

One of my favorite strategies for instilling grateful habits at home is something I call the 3 Good Things (3GT) game. I explain this idea in my forthcoming book, Detachment Parenting, but I wanted to give you a sneak peak right now.

Here’s how 3GT works.

Each evening, I ask my kids to share three good things that happened that day. They might think of things that happened at daycare or school, treats they had to eat, or activities they most enjoyed.  The point is not to count our blessings or to compare whose day was better and whose was worse. 3GT is a conscious effort to acknowledge our blessings out loud.

I do this activity separately with each child, because it’s part of their bedtime routine. (They don’t go to bed at the same time.) When each child is done sharing good things, I add a few comments to reinforce and expand on their good things. For instance, my son might say he loves the cool book he got from the library. I might add that I feel good when he snuggles up close to me to listen to stories before bed. My daughter might say me she loves the popcorn her Dad brought from work, and I might tell her I enjoyed seeing her huge smile when she received the popcorn. And I am happy she offered to share it with her big brother, even though he didn’t want any.

I also tell my kids about my own good things – like finishing an article or having lunch with a friend. This is one time when it’s easy to model the behavior I want from my kids because expressions of gratitude feel good. (Eating more veggies and less sugar is not so fun for anyone!)

Bottom line: 3GT is an easy, high-impact technique for creating a sense of abundance, well-being and appreciation. Why not make it part of your wind-down routine?

Stay tuned for more tips and techniques from Detachment Parenting. I’m sure there’s something in it for you.

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