We all know it to be true. Gratitude has always had a way of making a poor situation better. Of finding that silver lining when we can truly only see the grey cloud.
But how do we go about bringing more gratitude into our lives? Here are a few tips that have helped me open my mind to more thankfulness in my day:
- Just like everything you want to build, make a habit of it. I try to tell myself to say something I’m grateful for in the mirror when I’m brushing my teeth. It’s small, but it allows me to start and end my day with a more positive perspective.
- Get a gratitude journal. I have found both store-bought gratitude journals as well as made my own where I would simply list the date and a few things I’m grateful for in a notebook. Either way, finding time to write what I appreciate in life down somewhere I can review again has always helped me to refocus on the good in life.
- Say thanks for what’s in your sight right now. This is a fun little exercise. Let’s say you’re driving and get caught in traffic. Look around and see what is in your line of vision that brings you joy. Maybe it’s a model of a car you’ve been thinking about. Maybe it’s a restaurant you really like. It could be an oak tree that you climbed as a kid. Whatever it is, thank it for existing. You could thank the person who created the thing you like. The more you do it, the more you’ll be able to point out all the things you’re grateful for as you move about your day.
There are seasons in my life where I forget the power of gratitude. But every time I’m reminded to reintroduce it, it creates a better internal environment, which is reflected in my external environment.
Thank you, God, for gratitude!
a little latte 