In my last post, we figured out the benefits and common ways of practicing gratitude. But it’s important to have fun with your mental health. So, I’ve come up with a little gratitude game for you.
This mental exercise should only take a few minutes, and will hopefully add some inspiration (and nostalgia) to your gratitude journey. Let’s get started.
The Inspiration
Neil Gaiman (author of Coraline and Stardust) wrote a lesser-known short story called The October Tale. It tells the modern story of a genie who is woken up incidentally by a young woman cleaning an antique lamp.
The genie asks what the woman wants for her three wishes. She is silent for a while. And then very pragmatically she says:
“No thanks. I’m good.”
The genie is confused and presses her. She must want something. But she persists. She’s happy with her life as it is. And she doesn’t need three wishes.
The story is adorable and concludes on a delightful note, but I won’t spoil any further.
The point is: How often have you been asked, “What would you wish for if you had three wishes?” My mind instantly dances to a dozen things.
But what a wonderful and powerful moment to imagine, to tally up everything we already have and say to a genie, “No thanks. I’m good.”
The Gratitude Game
So here’s your exercise. Imagine you’ve rubbed a lamp and out pops a genie. Plot twist: this is ten years ago. So imagine your life and situation a whole decade ago. We’re talking 2011.
You’re allowed to make three wishes but they have to be things that you now have in the present day – things you didn’t have ten years ago and would’ve wished for.
Perhaps your wishes are for the big and obvious things you’ve gained in the last decade. Like finding your soulmate. Having children. Settling into a stable job.
Or maybe they’re more subtle things, but important nonetheless. A favorite TV show you found five years ago and have rewatched seven times. A new hobby. A coping mechanism. That new restaurant that cooks your favorite meal exactly how you like it.
This exercise helps your brain find value in your life as it is today, and also celebrates the growth of the last ten years. Usually the “genie question” leads to future fantasies. So instead, let’s reflect on the past to admire the present.
Have fun with your mental health
Practicing gratitude doesn’t have to be an overcomplicated thing. You can have fun with it. The point is to see your life through the rose-colored lens of gratitude, searching for new things to be grateful for.
Remember that the overlooked things in our own life might be the genie’s wish of someone else.
If you enjoyed this five-minute gratitude game, please let me know with a comment below. What were your three wishes? I’ll be dropping more Strong Mind posts and mental exercises, so subscribe and follow us on Facebook if you haven’t already.
Stay happy and healthy, friends.
Morgan is a part-time writer for Endurance Athletics, a designer for the news company Gannett, and founder of Better Self Blog. Things she’s obsessed with include: her two kids, her hubby/soulmate, fantasy novels, Ted Talks, making lists, and overthinking. Pronouns: she/her.
I really loved this exercise! It’s nice to sit and reflect on what you do have. I feel very grateful for my children, my husband, having jobs. So many other things. Those were the top 3. Those are the 3 common things you see people wishing for while others complain about what they have.