1) Make a daily habit of listing what you’re grateful for.
If you like to journal, write them down. If not, intentionally pull what you’re thankful for into focus. Smile while you’re listing these things. For me, smiling makes me really feel that gratitude deep in my heart parts.
Coffee, indoor plumbing, clean socks, mattresses, Autumn. I think you’ll find that it is exceedingly easy to come up with things to be grateful for, even if you’re having a bad day. Honestly, there’s no better time to show gratitude than when you are feeling down. It just lifts you up.
2) Let someone know what they mean to you.
We all have people in our lives that we are thankful for. Reach out. Send a card to a friend letting them know what they mean to you when it’s not even their birthday. Can you imagine? How about an influential teacher of yore? Look them up on Facebook and send them a message letting them know they made a difference.
3) Say please and thank you often.
All too often we become so busy (or self absorbed) we forget to take the one second of time it takes to say, “please” or “thank you”. Take that one second of time, friends. As a human who has worked in the service industry for a LONG time, believe me, it matters. It will also have that handy effect of being mirrored back to you. Be grateful and kind and you will attract gratitude and kindness. The world is a better place when you say those two words. Please. Thank you!
4) Be present.
Be intentional about this, because goshdarnit, it can be hard to do. Instead of pining over what you don’t have, be grateful for what you have right now. Try to incorporate this into a daily habit. You’re not just going to magically become a person that always lives in the moment and that’s okay! What you can do is setup a daily reminder on your phone that says ‘it’s time to be present, (insert your name here). Then do it, right in that moment.
5) Breath in, and then, Breath out.
Aren’t lungs just the best? Deeply breath in that glorious O2 and allow that rhythm to lead the pace of your day. Slow down, smell the roses. Listen to those birds sing, for the love!
6) Connect with yourself.
Meditate, get a manicure, read that book…something just for you. Taking time for yourself is essential. If you don’t, resentment begins to take up all of gratitude’s space. Which, is rude and kinda ugly. You deserve to pamper yourself.
Do you have different ways that you practice gratitude? I would love to hear them! Write a comment below.
No Comments