
As we reflect on the year and set intentions for what's ahead, now is a perfect time to anchor into gratitude with affirmations that nourish the mind and spirit. Gratitude itself activates the brain’s reward pathways, releasing dopamine and serotonin, and increasing your overall mood and feelings of happiness. Incorporating gratitude in your everyday life can do wonders for your soul and is a powerful tool for your mental and emotional well-being.
Some affirmations will resonate with you more than others, and that's the beauty of the practice. It's personal. A good gratitude affirmation can change your perspective, create space for yourself to feel better, and overall help you see the gifts in your life that you may have missed before. Prioritizing your inner peace means choosing words that feel aligned, affirming, and true. Let these gratitude affirmations help you realign with what matters most.
Read for your sun and moon sign below for your gratitude affirmations right now.
Aries
“With every breath I take, I am bringing more and more gratitude into my life.”
“I am grateful for the present moment.”
“I am creating a life that feels good and I am in charge of my happiness.”
Aries is straight to the point and needs a gratitude affirmation as such. When it comes to the perfect affirmation for an Aries Sun or Aries Moon, you want to look at what is going to make them feel empowered but also help ground this fiery sign. Aries are always on the go and need affirmations that are going to help balance their active energy.
Taurus
“I trust that what's meant for me is already mine.”
“I am eternally grateful for all of the blessings I have in my life.”
“I express deep appreciation for the small steps I achieve each day.”
Tauruses are masters of the chill mode, yet can get setbacks with their stubbornness to move. Taurus does well with an affirmation that inspires them and helps them feel passionate about their life. When it comes to gratitude, Tauruses have a lot to be grateful for however, it can be missed by the focus on what other things they want in their life. The perfect gratitude affirmation for Taurus helps them identify what truly matters in life.
Gemini
“I am safe and grateful for the present moment.”
“With a sense of gratitude, I see the world in a new light. Each day is an opportunity and a gift.”
“The more I show my gratitude, the more good things I receive to be thankful for.”
Gemini is a sign that is always on the go, fueling their curious soul. They are the social butterflies of the Zodiac and need an affirmation that can help ground all of their active energy. Geminis thrive when they have some sort of stability in their life as well as freedom, and they need time to reflect often on how things are going. Gratitude for Gemini comes through by having a good balance in all areas of their life.
Cancer
“I am grateful for the opportunities in my life, and the opportunities that are on the way to me right now.”
“I am grateful for the abundance and the love I effortlessly attract.”
“I am grateful for the presence of love and support in my life.”
Cancers are often thinking of the things they are grateful for, and typically have a good attitude towards this area of their life. They are emotional souls, ruled by the 4th house of stability and gratitude, and know the importance of a grateful heart. This water sign, however, can do well with more active and self-empowering energy and needs a gratitude affirmation that reminds them that they are also the gift in this world.
Leo
“I am grateful for the love that surrounds me. I am free to be my authentic self.”
“I am grateful to others for the kindness they show me. I am filled with praise and gratitude.”
“I am grateful for all the lessons I learned, and I'm ready to move forward now.”
Leos are ruled by the heart and are more emotional souls than many people realize. This fire sign is self-empowered but soft on the inside, and they need gratitude affirmations that will reach them in this heart space. The perfect affirmations for Leos are ones that align with their passion for life and also their passion for love, connection, and reciprocity.
Virgo
“I am grateful for my body, for all that I am, and for all that I have.”
“I am open to things working out for me. I am open to receiving abundance.
"I am open to connecting with my highest self.”
“Every day, I'm going to be more mindful of the small blessings I should be thankful for.”
Virgo is a sign that is grounded, practical, and intuitive. Yet, they are also a sign that can be in their head a lot, and tend to be prone to worrying. Virgos do well with gratitude affirmations that can bring them back to the gifts of the present moment, and that help them connect to their body more. This is a sign that needs an affirmation that can help balance their heart and their mind.
Libra
“I am grateful for everything I have been through because it has led me to where I am today.”
“I am so grateful for how loved I am and how much people care about me.”
“My family and friends support me, and I am grateful for their love.”
Libras are a more mental sign and they spend a lot of time in their headspace. The perfect gratitude affirmation allows them to see things from a bigger perspective and helps remind them of all they have to be grateful for. Being ruled by Venus, the planet of love, a good gratitude affirmation for them will also involve their relationships and the harmony they are always striving for here.
Scorpio
“I’m extremely grateful for my ability to be aware of the thoughts that serve me and the thoughts that do not serve me.”
“My heart is open and receptive to giving and receiving love. I am a magnet for positive, loving experiences.”
“I am grateful for the process, not just the destination.”
Scorpio is a sign that tends to see things in black and white. A great gratitude affirmation for Scorpio will help them find greater balance in their life, and also emotionally regulate. This is an emotional soul who benefits from learning more about their emotions and finding gratitude in all the experiences they move through, both good and bad.
Sagittarius
“I am happy and grateful for everything I have and receive daily.”
“I am grateful for my dreams and I know I have the power to manifest them.”
“I’m grateful for my strength and for my optimism in life.”
Sagittarius is the free-spirit, adventurous sign of the Zodiac. The perfect gratitude affirmation for this sign encompasses all that Sagittarius strives for, but also one that can help them feel safe within the present moment as well. Sagittarius is a futuristic thinker and needs a good gratitude affirmation that reminds them that the true gifts and possibilities are within the now rather than the later.
Capricorn
“I’m thankful for the smart choices that I make and I release all the pressure I put on myself.”
“Life gives me abundant blessings to be grateful for, and I know that I am worthy of them.”
“The more I pay attention to everything in life that is working in my favor, the happier I am and the better my life gets.”
Capricorns are ambitious and hard-working souls, but they are more prone to pessimism than most as well. The perfect gratitude affirmation for this earth sign, helps them believe in the seemingly impossible and helps them feel empowered in the things they are striving for. This sign tends to be successful in whatever they put their mind to, and they need a gratitude affirmation that is going to remind them of that and help them be proud of themselves and their accomplishments more.
Aquarius
“I am grateful for the community I live in.”
“I am grateful for who I am and what I know.”
“I am grateful for the inspiration in my life right now.”
Aquariuses are master manifesters and they know that the key to manifestation is gratitude. This sign can thrive more, however, when they are focused on the present moment rather than what they can create for the future. This is a fixed sign, after all, and they can get stuck in certain mental patterns and thinking that don’t serve them. When looking at gratitude affirmations, Aquarius needs something that is going to highlight the hope in their life.
Pisces
“I am grateful for my sense of gratitude. I know it is the way to joy, peace, and the life of my dreams.”
“All I have right now is this moment is enough. For that, I am grateful.”
“I am grateful for my heart, and my ability to love.”
Pisces is a dreamy soul that is often wandering through the fantasies of life. This optimism and mental expansion serve them well when it comes to manifesting their desires, but it can also be difficult for this sign to feel grounded in life. When it comes to gratitude, this energy comes from the present moment and your feet planted firmly in the ground. Pisces thrive with a gratitude affirmation that can help them feel more safe and secure in the present.
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Originally published on November 25, 2024
This article is in partnership with Lexus.
Luxury is often defined by someone else’s standards. But what if the finer things in life looked different through the lens of those crafting and shaping Black culture?
In Redefining Excellence, a two-episode short-form video series presented by Will Packer Media in collaboration with Lexus, we dare to broaden how we think about luxury. Here, it’s not just about the price tag. Luxury is a practice.
At its core, Redefining Excellence is a celebration of intention woven into every detail of how we live: our joy, our spaces, our craft, but also our rituals of care. These are the Black creators who not only give the best to themselves in what they build, but also pay it forward to the communities around them.
Through their vision, they embody the same precision and artistry that Lexus embraces when in pursuit of a higher standard, the Standard of Amazing.
In Episode 1, “Ingredients of Success,” the series follows chef, restaurateur, and Lexus Culinary Master Kwame Onwuachi, whose artistry is imbued with rich cultural storytelling. We see him wander purposefully through a garden, gently testing the ripeness of fresh fruits and vegetables. “Luxury isn’t about exclusivity. It’s about being intentional with your choices and craft,” he says.
The article continues after the video.
“Now, because of my work and the ingredients I use, luxury means something different. I am boldly setting a new standard of amazing and innovation.”
As he chops vegetables, plates vibrant dishes, and loads the finished product into the sleek Lexus LC Convertible, he continues, “For me, luxury means ingredients that carry memory… dining experiences and locations that honor the stories that raised me and feel like us.”
In Episode 2, “The Texture of Luxury,” the lens turns to founder and CEO of CurlyCon LA Ava Pearl, whose ingredients take a different form. As the trunk of her Lexus LX 700h lifts, she says, “When I think of luxury, it isn’t expensive, it’s expansive.” The scene shifts, and we watch Ava lay down a bouquet of fresh flowers upon entering her home before using aloe vera leaves to prepare gel by hand.
The article continues after the video.
“When I was younger, I thought luxury was something you bought. Now I know it’s about living up to a higher standard… Black women have always defined what’s next, setting the standard for beauty, luxury, and excellence.”
Like Kwame, she builds with intention, pouring care into the details, believing, like Lexus, that “luxury isn’t just a finish, it’s a standard. One that’s built to amaze.”
Through these stories, Redefining Excellence serves as a reminder that the journey is not just about the destination, but also the ingredients you choose along the way.
Watch both episodes now and learn more about how Kwame and Ava set their own standard of amazing.
Featured image by xoNecole/Will Packer Media
As Cuffing Season Steadily Approaches, What The Heck Is 'Winter Coating'?
Y’all, I ain’t got not one lie to tell you. With the way that this summer has gone in my world (check out “I've Been Estranged From My Mom For Years. She Died Last Week.” and “I Was Hired To Be An Online Life Coach. Then Got Scammed For $4K. Here's How To Avoid This.”), I am not surprised in the least that it caught me off guard that, once again, we are officially in the drafting portion of yet another cuffing season.
What I will say threw me a bit is that there are actual dating trends in cuffing (did y’all know that?), and one of them happens to be something called “winter coating.”
What do I personally think about cuffing season? I think it’s more than a notion and you should proceed with caution. As far as the subset of it that is known as winter coating, though — well, as you’re about to see, if you’re going to try to take it on, you absolutely need to know what you are getting yourself into because if you lie to yourself, it may not exactly give you the results that you were looking for.
Read on to see what I mean by that…
What Is the Science Behind Cuffing Season?
GiphyOkay, so first let’s get into if cuffing season is a “real thing” or not. Well, from what I’ve read and researched, apparently, someone should send an artist by the name of Musa Murchison a Cash App because, although she isn’t the originator of the phrase, she does seem to be the one who made it popular by shouting it out back in 2008 on her campus radio show. And yes, beyond the term being something that comes up on social media, like clockwork, right around this time every year, there does seem to be some real science behind it all — even if you want to chalk what I’m about to say up to being nothing more than mere coincidence.
What do I mean specifically? Well, being that cuffing season is (generally) all about finding someone to boo/bae up with before the weather drops below freezing, only to potentially break up with said-person once the temperatures start to rise again — did you know that dating apps tend to pick up on traffic between October and December (although the most popular dating app day is Dating Sunday which is in January)?
Did you also know that dating, in general, tends to happen the most between November and February? And, if you do decide to take what I just said seriously, it also shouldn’t surprise you that most children (in the US) are conceived during the fall and winter seasons as well. So yeah, at the very least, it does seem like people want to get “closer than close” the colder it gets outdoors.
And exactly why is that? Chile, you can read an article that I wrote for the platform last year entitled, “Did You Know Fall & Winter Are The Best Times To Have Sex?” to put two and two together on that tip.
Cooler (and even rainier) weather. Pumpkins (which are a bona fide aphrodisiac; especially for men) being in abundance. Being indoors more often. The romance of the holiday season. Shifts in our DNA making us hornier (not to mention the fact that men find women more attractive during the colder months — no joke). All of these things literally help to create the perfect storm as far as cuffing season is concerned.
8 Interesting Straight-Up Facts About Cuffing Season
GiphyI’m pretty sure I’ve mentioned in one of these articles on here before that a web series I enjoyed watching last year is called Cuddle Season. You can currently watch it on — yep, you guessed it — Tubi; it’s all about some not-so-slim fellas adoring what the cooler weather brings them as far as female company is concerned. LOL. As I thought about it and all of the other intel that I just provided, I decided to further solidify the impact that cuffing season provides by bullet pointing a few other semi-fascinating facts.
1. 1 in 3 individuals find cuffing season to be a real phenomenon, although more millennials are caught up in the hype than those who are older than they are (by the way, 54 percent of Gen Zers find the holiday season to be the perfect time for finding a potential partner too).
2. Although around 30 percent of individuals think that cuffing season is mostly about staying warm, about 45 percent think it’s more about avoiding loneliness.
3. 60 percent of people who tend to feel lonely during the fall and winter will rely on dating apps to bring about some sort of mental and emotional relief.
4. Getting “cuffed up” has actually been proven to reduce anxiety and stress.
5. Not everyone thinks that cuffing season is (potentially) selfish or shallow. In fact, the most engagements transpire between November and January.
6. Know all of those holiday movies where single people fake being in a relationship during the holiday season in order to avoid any pressure from family members and friends? Apparently, it’s art imitating real life because one popular study revealed that a whopping 40 percent of singles have asked a friend to pretend to be their date during the holiday season.
7. Testosterone levels are higher in men during cooler months while being lower in hotter seasons. Women’s eggs are apparently in optimal condition during the fall and wintertime too.
8. Some researchers actually finding “cuffing” to be a means of literal survival due to the fact that (affectionate) touch lowers stress and, since stress is attached to health-related issues like digestive issues, a lower libido, irregular cycles, heart disease, headaches, depression and shortened longevity — well, yes, cuffing season could potentially be a lifesaver.
Okay, So What Is Winter Coating All About?
GiphyAight, so now that you know more about cuffing season than you possibly ever thought that you would, what in the world does the dating term “winter coating” come from? Well, the long-short of it is…what some of y’all call “spinning the block?” How I oftentimes see it is “hitting a cul-de-sac.” LOL. Yes chile, if you decide to participate in winter coating activities during cuffing season, what you’re essentially doing is making the intentional decision to either reach out to an ex or — respond to one who decides to call, text, DM or email you, seemingly out of the blue.
Now the interesting thing about winter coating is it’s not really something that dating experts are thrilled about. One reason is because if someone is in your past, you’ve got to remember that it got to that point for a purpose. Another issue is because, well, why did you/they wait until cuffing season to try and reach out/rekindle something?
Usually, the motive for that is because, oftentimes, the combination of nostalgia mixed with the feeling that love bombing is easier to do on an ex than anyone else. And while that indeed may be true, does that sound healthy and long-term beneficial to you? Yeah, me neither.
Yeah honestly, when you really stop to think about it, winter coating seems a lot like what we do with our actually winter gear — we cram it somewhere where we don’t have to deal with it until it gets cold outside and then we pull it out from a closet, hope chest or under our bed to use it all (and up) for a couple of months — until we don’t need it anymore…and then we discard it all over again. SMDH.
So, if you’re someone who is an avid fan or big-time participant of cuffing season, before you decide to bring winter coating into the mix, really ponder if it’s a good idea or wise decision — because doing something that keeps you warm for a few weeks only for it to turn you cold afterwards…that typically turns out to be more counterproductive than anything else.
5 Tips for Guarding Your Heart (and Perhaps Genitalia) During Cuffing Season
GiphyMatter of fact, while we’re on the topic of cuffing season overall, let me share a few tips to keep you as unscathed as possible, period:
1. To thine own self be true. It’s a French philosopher by the name of Jean de La Bruyère who once said, “It's motive alone which gives character to the actions of men.” You know, the reason why a lot of people trip their own selves up in life is because they aren’t being honest with themselves about WHY they do the things that they do. That said, if you’re going into cuffing season just to have someone to cuddle up and watch Hallmark movies with until spring — have at it.
However, if you’re using cuffing season in hopes of getting something more out of it, SAY THAT. The more honest you are with yourself about your intentions, the less disappointed, disillusioned or hurt you will be…regardless of how things may play out in the end. You were genuine. Karma has taken note.
2. Think about your short and long-term (relational) goals. Let’s be real — for most people, cuffing season is a short-term goal. So, if you want something that is fleeting, do you. On the other hand, if you’re looking for something more meaningful, playing all of the games that come with cuffing season is not going to be your best bet — especially when it comes to the whole winter coating thing.
Yeah, please keep that in mind as you and your ex are taking a walk down memory lane because, more times than not? It’s probably going to lead to (another) dead end. If not immediately…eventually. Bottom line with this one: cuffing season only thinks about the present. Make sure that you also factor in your future.
3. If he’s your ex, don’t sugarcoat why. I’m not the person who thinks that an ex can’t be upcycled — just make sure that you aren’t merely recycling him. The difference? Recycling is using something old (or used) all over again. Upcycling is taking something old (or used) and making it better. That said, sometimes time gives people the opportunity to grow and that can make the “take two” of a relationship better.
Just make sure that if you are entertaining getting back with an ex that you are real with yourself about why the relationship ended to begin with. If you see signs of that mess/drama/ridiculousness still hovering around — cuffing season or not, you should probably take a pass. Why let him infiltrate your holiday season with some bullshishery that you will carry with you for years to come? Girl, uh-uh.
4. DO NOT follow your heart. If you’ve read enough of my relational content, you know that I can’t stand the motto, “Follow your heart”. The fact that it’s not biblical should be reason enough — and it’s not because Jeremiah 17:9-10 says that the heart is deceitful and that’s because emotions can indeed cause you to think/believe that something is one way when it may indeed be something else. And so, as you go into cuffing season this year, follow facts and reality.
That is biblical too: “It’s best to stay in touch with both sides of an issue. A person who fears God deals responsibly with all of reality, not just a piece of it.” (Ecclesiastes 7:18 — Message) In other words, if how you feel is conflicting with what you see — pause, ponder and reflect.
5. Avoid peer (and social media) pressure as best you can. I don’t even know if people would give a damn (at least so much) about cuffing season if social media didn’t talk about it so much. And don’t even get me started on just like peer pressure can get kids and teens to go against their core values and/or participate in risky behavior, it can impact adults in a similar fashion.
Bottom line with this point: Don’t engage in cuffing season or winter coating just because you see other people doing it. If your mind, body and spirit are telling you that it’s not what’s best for you — TAP OUT. You’ll be just fine.
____
Winter coating. Hmph.
Your best bet: Buy one to wear and avoid this dating trend.
The former is an investment. Chances are the latter is a complete waste (of time).
Just sayin’.
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