How to Show Gratitude

 

Gratitude is good for the soul. It teaches us humility and improves our overall well being. It’s hard to be mad when you are expressing gratitude. While it may sound easy, the practice of conveying gratitude doesn’t come effortless for some. You want to learn how to show gratitude? Below you will find a few tips to get you started on you journey of presenting gratitude into your daily practice.

Appreciate all the things that life has to offer.

Life is full of difficulties but the challenge is accepting all that life has to give us. There is the good, the bad and the awful. Shift your focus and acknowledge each day as a gift. I am a believer that there is no such thing as “bad days”. Each and every day is a new opportunity to make a change in your life, if you would so please. 

 

Don’t sweat the small stuff and don’t take things for granted.

Stressing and getting upset about things out of your control does nothing for anybody. So they are out of your favorite chicken at your favorite restaurant. Take this as an opportunity to try something new instead of complaining about the minute things.

 

Practice.

Keep a journal of the thing that you are thankful for. My journal consists of three things each day. I begin with how I want to feel for the day. I express my gratitude, I usually write three things that I am grateful for and I write out some affirmations, simple. It takes me anywhere from five to 15 minutes and it starts my day off on the right path.

 

Affirmations.

Not only do we want to express gratitude but we want to speak affirmations as well. As you can see from the practice portion of this post I practice the use of affirmations as well. What we say about ourselves is how we feel and let’s choose to replace the negative with the positive. Here is an affirmation for you to get you started, Today, I am on the lookout to spread some cheer where it is needed.

 

Be with the ones you love.

Sometimes just having family and loved ones around can bring you a sense of gratitude, love, home and wholeness. Spend some time with those you love.

 

Say it out loud.

Express to those that you care about how you feel about them. I’m pretty mushy and my expressions come with tears but that’s my way, it’s the only way that I know how to do it. You do what you feel is best for you to express your care. Maybe it’s a “great dinner tonight mom” followed by a hug. However you decide to go about it say it out loud through words and your actions.

 

Have an attitude of gratitude.

Focusing your (positive) energy on what is going well and all that you have to be thankful for (EVERYTHING!). What you focus on flourishes. They do not say that for no reason. The more you are thankful for the more you will be thankful for.

Gratitude is a feeling. It’s a warm and cozy feeling like sitting by a fire cuddled up in a blanket next to your favorite human. I think that the only way to do it wrong is to not do it at all. Grateful people take better care of themselves. They manage stress in a healthier way and they are overall happier. Are you in the habit of expressing your gratitude in all areas of your life?