It’s easy to get caught up in the mundane tasks of everyday life. We sometimes struggle with finding things to be thankful for. The good news is, there are many ways to practice showing gratitude, starting with these five tips.
- Stop and take inventory during special moments. When you’re enjoying a great time with loved ones, take some time to breathe in all of the wonderful things that are happening. It may be as simple as a weeknight dinner with family or as monumental as the birth of a new baby. Whatever it is, stop for a moment and just be thankful you are there experiencing this special time.
- Express your thanks. Oftentimes, we take for granted that people know how grateful we are for their help. Sometimes it’s nice to express your thanks in physical ways. Some ideas include:
- Saying “thank you”.
- Sending a card or flowers.
- Purchasing a special gift.
- Sharing a message of gratitude on social media.
- Doing a kind deed for that person in return.
- Journal your thoughts. Writing with pen and paper has quickly been replaced with tapping buttons on a phone or keyboard. The feeling of opening up a journal and jotting down your thoughts for the day, especially the things you’re thankful for, is one that simply can’t be replaced. Taking even five minutes at the end of the day to journal your thoughts is a great start towards being a more appreciative person.
- Focus on the positives. Life can be hard sometimes. We all have our struggles. Spending too much time focusing on the negative things in life never leads to a good outcome. For every negative thought, cancel it out with a positive one. You’ll soon find that life really isn’t that bad and that there’s always something to be thankful for.
- Treat yourself. We all deserve a little pampering from time to time, especially when we’ve done something worthy of praise. Instead of waiting for someone else to show their appreciation for you, treat yourself. Buy yourself something special or participate in a fun activity- anything that makes you smile and gives you encouragement to keep living a life filled with kindness.