Five simple ways to practice gratitude
Practicing gratitude can truly change your life. There is a saying that says we should be grateful for the small things in life (not just the big things), and it really is true.
This year has been tough, and who’s to say next year won’t be tougher? But regardless, we all have good and bad days and it's all part of life. Practicing gratitude can make our life better in so many ways. It will become quite difficult to focus on the negative when you're feeling gratitude.
So what is gratitude and why is it important?
Gratitude is defined as the quality of being thankful, readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.
And it might sound easy, but we often forget to show gratitude, especially when we feel or believe nothing is going our way. Living your life with gratitude will help you to be thankful for the little things, such as waking up each day, being able to walk to the shop and the bus showing up right on time. Each of these small moments strings together to create a web of well-being that, over time, strengthens your ability to notice the good. The more you appreciate and notice the good, the more good that will come your way.
Practicing gratitude will keep us grounded and comfort us during difficult times, reminding us that even in the darkest moments and the toughest times, there are always things to be thankful for.
How can we practice gratitude?
In order for us to be grateful, we have to pause, take a moment and notice that this is happening, and I need to be thankful for it, regardless of how small it may be. The more we do this, the more likely it will eventually become a part of your daily life. There are so many benefits and it can help you in many different ways, whether that is to relieve stress or boost your mental health, the benefits are endless. Feeling gratitude can also help when you're going through a tough time and also when you want to manifest something in your life - gratitude is one of the essential steps to staying open to receiving all the goodness coming your way.
There are so many ways to practice gratitude and today, I will share with you five simple ways.
1. Keep a gratitude journal and add to it every day
I cannot begin to explain how this has changed my life so much. Keeping a gratitude journal to regularly record the things you are grateful for will give you time to notice and reflect upon the things and be thankful. It's an easy habit to form and the great thing about it is that it's there for you to look back on when you need to.
You may start jotting down things in the morning or at the end of the day - it's really up to you, but it is important to be consistent in the way you chose to regularly record the things you are grateful for.
2. Enjoy nature's beauty
Practice gratitude by appreciating the beauty of the natural world. Take a walk, pause and listen to the sound of nature and smell the fresh air. Be mindful of the miracles around you and just how perfect it all is.
3. Include an act of kindness in your life each day
Seeing the beauty in others and paying compliments will put a smile on their faces. Being kind and respectful can go a long way in brightening someone's day, plus we just never know what a person may be going through, and we may just be the one to make that person's day. This will also make you feel good because there is just something great about being able to make others smile and seeing the good in others.
4. Say thank you for the little things
Say thank you for what others do for you, the things you normally take for granted. It is important to feel grateful and express gratitude. Saying thank you for our meals, for another day, for our hands, eyes, feet, legs and every part of our body because every little thing matters. Having a sense of gratitude that life has offered each of us allows us to fill our life with love and appreciation.
5. Start and end your day with gratitude
Make it become a daily part of your life to start and end your day with gratitude. It is can be in the form of a quick prayer of thanks, a text of appreciation or a reminder of what went right in your day.
Gratitude is such a powerful emotion, one that can make your life better in so many ways and there are many more ways to make gratitude a part of your every day life. I believe these five simple ways are a great way to start practicing gratitude.