There’s a lot of reasons to practice gratitude in your daily life. Of course, it’s good to be grateful for everything we have. But there’s also a lot of science coming out to confirm why it makes us feel good.
Everything from emotional regulation to an elevated mindset.
If you find yourself in a place where it’s hard to be grateful, don’t worry. The more that you practice looking around and finding things to be grateful for, you’ll find even more things to be grateful for.
Gratitude attracts gratitude. And those feel-good feelings can be spread to family, friends, colleagues, and whoever you encounter in your day-to-day life.
If you’re at a loss of where to start, I’ve compiled a list on ways to practice gratitude today.
Write Down Your Gratitude
Whether it’s a journal or a piece of paper in a jar, keep a dedicated space for your gratitude. Think of at least three things to write down. This can be first thing in the morning or a way to wrap up your day.
Think of what it is you’re grateful for. It can be the people around you, your job, the roof over your head. Maybe a co-worker wanted to take you to lunch.
Some days, it can be harder than others. Bad moods happen. Some of us have depression. It’s not a cure all by any means. But during your low or hard days, it can help you feel better. You can see how many things you’ve written.
If you’re using a jar, you can watch it fill up day by day.
Revisiting what you’re grateful for can instantly elevate your mood. And if you have days where you feel stuck, it may get the gratitude juices going.
You could also extend that gratitude in the form of a thank-you note.
We live in the age of the internet. There’s something meaningful about receiving a handwritten note. Keep some blank cards on hand and make a goal to hand them out.
Meditate on Gratitude
Meditation is an amazing practice to have as part of any self-love practice. This extends to gratitude as well.
Take some time to make a list or review your gratitude journal. Really feel the gratitude and love of everything that you’ve listed. Let it fill you up.
After taking a moment to review your list, take a deep breath and get comfortable.
Feel gratitude for your breath and the way it fills your lungs. Feel gratitude for your body since it’s with you all the time.
Think of someone in your life that fills you with so much gratitude. With them in mind, focus on the feeling of gratitude they have given you. Let the feeling wash over your.
Set a timer and intentionally meditate on gratitude for five minutes to start and work your way up from there.
Find A Gratitude Quote That Resonates
Another way to stay in that mode of gratitude is to keep a quote nearby. You can write it in your journal. Or put it somewhere you can see it. I write quotes on a whiteboard near my computer constantly.
It keeps me on track with my goals. But it’s also there to inspire me.
If you have a hard time thinking of a quote, here’s a list of over fifty. Read through them and see which one resonates with your gratitude practice the most.
Remember, it’s a practice for a reason. The goal is not perfection. The goal is the journey. If you get into this beautiful habit, gratitude will come as second nature. Even in the rough periods of your life, you’ll always be able to find something to be grateful for.
Do you have an ongoing gratitude practice? What would you tell yourself if you were starting new? Would you add anything to this gratitude list? Let us know in the comments!