REVIEW – BetterBox: Welcome To Gratitude

We'd love it if you shared it!

This post was written by Mom Knows It All contributor Alena B.

The product(s) featured in this post was provided to me free of cost to me. This post has not been monetarily compensated. Please note that, as always, any personal opinions reflected in this post are my own.

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi

In a world growing increasingly grim, finding ways to focus on gratitude and positivity is very important, both to each of us as individuals, and to our wider communities and culture. Unfortunately, finding those moments and things can feel impossible in our busy day to day lives. BetterBox can help!

“BetterBox may look like a box, but it’s really more like a movement.” ~ BetterBox

The act of courting gratitude has many positive effects. Gratitude can elevate our mood, improve your energy levels, enhance your physical well-being, and with each deliberate act of gratitude you can traing your attention to seek out the gifts and blessings in your life, and help you keep from hyper-focusing on the problems. With repetition, this transformation in attitude and focus can allow you to experience and seek gratitude in your life effortlessly and automatically. And as your own outlook improves, your interactions with others can create a ripple effect of gratitude to those around you.

BetterBox is a monthly subscription box service. Every month you will receive a carefully curated selection of items intended to help you with acts of gratitude. In my box, I received a delectable sugar cookie, a gratitude stone, gourmet herbal tea, gratitude-themed note cards, cute heart shaped sticky notes, and swoon-worthy soaking salts for the bath.

The contents of each box are a fun surprise, but what truly makes this service unique is Happi, your BetterBox “concierge”. When you open your box, you will find a code to enter on their website, and each day that month you will receive an email with a link to access that day’s Better Deed, along with pieces of inspirational wisdom and advice, designed to help you connect with the gifts in your life, and inspire you to live with gratitude. Some Deeds require you to use the items in your box, and some do not, so be sure to resist the urge to indulge right away! For instance, I’m going to have a hard time doing whatever they want me to do on “sugar cookie day” because, well, COOKIE.

Day 1 of my Better Deeds asked me to fill out the included Gratitude Quest: Reflection Mind Map.

It asked me to list three things – person, place, thing – for which I’m grateful, then find things they have in common that expand on why I’m grateful for them, and finally to list other people, places, and things that the original three things remind me to be grateful for. It was interesting, seeing my results. I had trouble thinking of a place and thing, initially, but when I did (they were quite random), I realized that what they had in common with my person – my daughter – spoke to my soul-need for comfort, peace, and refreshment. She makes my soul happy; I crave these things in my life, and it was refreshing to find them in so many areas of my life. It definitely made me feel grateful.

Day 4’s Better Deed asked me to retreat to a quiet place in nature for half an hour to quietly appreciate the gifts in my life, while using the gratitude stone as a point of contact. I’ve found this method helpful for centering and clearing away negativity in the past, and while my “quiet place in nature” ended up being my bathroom with the door closed for 10 minutes, and my daughter was the “stranger” who found the stone (I was supposed to leave it for a stranger to find), for a mother of a three year old I think I did alright. It was surprisingly effective, even hiding out like a criminal (because, THREE YEAR OLD), and she loves the stone, so win-win! #lol

Day 5 asked me to perform a random good deed, and then “share to inspire better”. I am not a fan of talking about the good deeds we perform, because I think it takes away from it, and borders on bragging. But they are right that hearing about what others do can inspire us to do things ourselves, so in the right context, and on an extremely limited basis, I think sharing what we do can be a good thing.

In this case, I am giving a local girl a ride to another town this evening, to pick up some things she needs; she’s hit a rough spot in her life, and needs help. I don’t consider this a “random act of kindness” because she asked for the ride, and because I think that if we can help someone we know needs help, it’s not only not random, but it is what we SHOULD do – help our neighbors when they need it, because that’s good citizenship, and being a good person. So taking her tonight isn’t my deed – but getting her something to drink that I know she can’t get for herself is something extra, something unexpected, and something that I think could qualify as a small act of kindness. I’m extremely low income myself, so it’s not much, but it’s important to know that you do not have to be flush with cash to do something kind for a stranger.

I really enjoyed exploring the BetterBox I was sent, and would love to do this again! I like that they give you multiple subscription options – monthly for $29, 6 months for $165, a full year for $319 – as well as offering three different gift subscription options, and a one time box option at only $34.99 (so you can get your feet wet without a commitment). All options include free shipping (a flat $5 for Canadians), and their customer services appears to be better than most.

For anyone looking for a simple way to incorporate gratitude and calm into your life, I highly recommend BetterBox as a great option that will really help. You can learn more by visiting their website at www.betterbox.life, and by checking them out on social media.

CONNECT

BetterBox website – BetterBox on Facebook – BetterBox on Twitter