“I would maintain that gratitude is the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.”
GK Chesterton
“Enjoy the little things because one day you might look back and realize they were the big things.”
Robert Brault
“Develop the habit of being grateful for every good thing that happens to you, and of being thankful all the time. And because all things have contributed to your progress, you should include all things in your gratitude.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Next week many of my readers will be celebrating Thanksgiving.
That’s why I thought it would be a good time to share a handful of my favorite tips for making gratitude a daily part of life.
Because being grateful for what you have is one of the simplest and easiest ways to improve your mood. To boost your motivation. And to live a happier life.
It doesn’t matter who you are or where in the world you live.
1. Pause and look around you.
A simple first step to being more grateful is to pause throughout the day and ask yourself these two questions:
- What three things can I be grateful for in my life today?
- What three people can I be grateful to have in my life and why?
If you don’t think of three people and three things every day, that’s okay. One thing or person is also great.
But if you can, try not to repeat yourself too often.
Instead, think of more people and things to be grateful for so that you can expand your grateful view of your world day by day.
2. Express your gratitude.
Don’t stop at thinking of people you are grateful to have in your life.
Take a few seconds to tell them about it. This will make their lives happier. And when their faces light up with a smile, you will feel happier too.
That gratitude could be just a small sentence. But it can have a major impact on someone’s day, week or even life.
So make sure you make the small effort to express it.
3. Also look at yourself.
It’s not just things that are important. Or other people.
You are also important and valuable.
So appreciate that.
Ask yourself:
What are 3 things about myself that I can be grateful for?
You may have been a good sister during a crisis last week. You may finally be done with that boring or difficult task you’ve been putting off.
Your self-gratitude doesn’t have to be all about achievements.
You can just be grateful for your good sense of humor. Or the help you give your friends and family by listening carefully every now and then.
And gratitude doesn’t have to be about big things either. It may simply have to do with flossing for a few minutes in the morning.
4. Be grateful for the things you may take for granted.
The things we become very accustomed to can become things we take for granted. But they’re not things that everyone in the world has access to.
A few such things that I like to think about and am very grateful for are:
- A roof over my head and a warm house.
- Sufficient drinking water.
- That I don’t have to go hungry.
- Being able to enjoy the small and free pleasures of life.
- Access to the internet so I can learn and connect with people.
I’ve found that being grateful for things like this especially helps to zoom out and put my situation into perspective when I’m going through a difficult time in my life.
5. Start or end your day with gratitude.
To make gratitude a habit that sticks, find a regular time for it in your day.
For example, you can start your day well by finding 3 things about yourself that you can be grateful for during breakfast.
Or you can take a few minutes in the evening, just before you go to bed, to write down 3 things you are grateful for from the day in a journal.
Try a small time investment like this and see the impact it has on your life.