Gratitude is not a one-time thing. It’s something we practice and return to again and again. Practicing gratitude isn’t about getting ready to be grateful – it’s about staying in a place of gratitude. If you want to feel the benefits of being grateful more often, you have to make it part of your everyday life... no matter how busy you are. A little bit goes a long way! Keeping gratitude as a regular practice in your life will help you stay positive and happy no matter what challenges or difficulties come your way. These ideas will help you practice gratitude on a regular basis and keep it as an essential part of your life:
Morning gratitude practice
Start your day with gratitude! Well, gratitude practices can be done at any time of day, but when you first wake up your mind is fresh and open to new ideas – so take advantage of it! Doing something small, like taking a few minutes to write down three things you are grateful for in your life, will help set your mood for the day and inspire you to stay grateful throughout the rest of your busy schedule.
Evening gratitude practice
End your day with gratitude! As you wrap up your day, take five minutes to write down three things you are grateful for in your life. It’s amazing how much can happen in a day. It’s easy to forget all the positive things that happen when we’re caught up in our thoughts about everything that didn’t go as planned. By doing this, you’ll start to see that even on your busiest days, there is plenty to be grateful for!
Weekly gratitude meetings
If you work with a team, try having a weekly meeting where everyone takes a few minutes to write down three things they are grateful for in their lives. Not only does this practice help team members stay positive and engaged during the week, it can also help them see the bigger picture of what’s happening in their lives. When you personally take a few minutes each week to really reflect on the good things in your life, it’s easier to see the big picture of what’s happening in your life and how you can best move forward. It also helps you understand how gratitude can be a positive action in any situation and is not just a one-time feeling.
Daily walks
Every morning, why not try taking a 30-minute walk and make it a gratitude walk. Take a pen and paper with you and, as you walk, think about the three things you are grateful for in your life. It might feel strange at first, but after a few weeks, you’ll see how much this gratitude walk can change your life. Not only will you be cultivating a positive outlook in your life, you’ll also be improving your physical health too.
Give thanks for everything you have & everything you don’t have
Yes, even the challenges in your life. Challenges are an inevitable part of life and learning to see them as an opportunity for growth rather than something negative will help you stay positive and grateful in any situation. Things that come easily to some are difficult for others, so when you’re feeling down and like you have nothing to be grateful for, give thanks for the challenges in your life. They’re not only helping you grow as a person but they’re also shaping who you are, and without them, you wouldn’t be who you are today. Whatever you have in your life – be it challenges or anything else – give thanks for it and see how it changes your outlook and your life.
Write a letter of gratitude to someone who’s helped you
This is a great idea for anyone who has someone in their life who inspired them or helped them out in some way. When we receive a gift, it’s only natural to want to give something back in return. When someone has given you a gift, gratitude is the best gift you could ever give back. It doesn’t matter if they’re still alive or not – write a letter to someone who has inspired you or helped you out in some way and pour your heart out with gratitude. You don’t have to send the letter to the person – it can just be something you write for yourself. It’s a great way to reflect on your life and remember how important gratitude is in our lives.
Keep a journal of all the things you’re grateful for
This doesn’t have to be something you do every day, but keeping a journal of all the things you’re grateful for can really help you remember all the good things that have happened in your life. Journaling is a great way to get emotions and thoughts out of your head and onto paper, so whatever gratitude journaling looks like for you – go for it! You can write down a few things you’re grateful for each day or keep track of the things you’re grateful for in your life in general. There’s no wrong way to journal about gratitude, just as long as you’re doing it!
Use technology to remind yourself to be grateful
We’re all plugged in these days and there are a ton of ways you can use technology to remind yourself to be grateful. You can set an alert on your phone to pop up at a certain time every day so you don’t forget to be grateful. You can also set up a gratitude journal with an app like Three Good Things. You can even set an emoji reminder to pop up on your phone every day to remind you to stay grateful. Whatever works best for you, use technology to keep gratitude a regular part of your day!
Final Thoughts
Being grateful is not something you do once in a while or when you're in the mood; it is a way of life. It is a choice we make every day. It is letting go of being in the wrong place at the wrong time and instead, taking the time to appreciate where we are, who we are and what we have. Gratitude changes your life. It puts you in a positive state of mind, it makes you happier, it improves your health and it changes your perspective on life. Practicing gratitude is like taking a daily vitamin that makes you better, healthier, stronger and happier. It is the one thing that can change your life. What are you waiting for? Ready to start your journey towards a life full of gratitude?
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