Big or small, it’s easy to focus on the negative in life. But you don’t have to let your problems get you down. You don’t always have a choice about what happens to you, but you do have a choice on how you respond. Practicing gratitude on a daily basis helps to set you up to see the positive in life instead of focusing on the negative. Here are 25+ easy ways you can practice gratitude.
Health problems. Cancer. Death in the family. Divorce. Financial problems. Life isn’t always rainbows and puppy kisses. It’s called life and it happens to all of us. Heck, even things like traffic, your child bringing home a bad report card, or burning dinner can cause you to have a bad day.
Enter gratitude. Gratitude in the middle of life’s chaos can help you to recenter yourself. But practicing gratitude on a daily basis makes it a habit and helps you to retrain your brain to see the blessings in life.
Here are 25+ EASY ways that you can practice gratitude each and every day. Are you ready to boost your mood and elevate your good vibes?
Gratitude to Self
We begin with self because you need to fill your own cup before you can fill anyone else’s. Start with being kind to yourself and focusing on your own gratitude practice. Once you have this down, it will be easy to be abundant with your gratitude toward others.
1. Speak to yourself the way you would speak to a child. Would you speak all of those negative thoughts that you speak to yourself to a child? Exactly. Remember to love yourself and be thankful for what makes you… you.
2. Meditate and/or pray. Take a few minutes every day to center and ground yourself.
Psst… want to nourish your spirit every day with gratitude, scripture, and affirmations? Click below…
3. Practice mindfulness. Focus on the present and what is in front of you, instead of being upset about what recently happened or worrying about what’s going to happen in the future.
4. Dance to your favorite song. When no one is around. Turn up the volume and let it out.
5. Flip-flop the negative to positive. There are two ways of looking at any situation. You get to pick how you respond.
6. Begin and end each day with gratitude. Go big and aim for 10 gratitudes to begin and end your day.
7. Create a daily gratitude ritual. Pick one or several of the ideas listed here and make them a daily ritual.
8. Create a Gratitude Log. Amy at Mainly Homemade offers advice on How a Daily Gratitude Log Can Change Your Life
9. Go for a walk. Nature is always best, but if you don’t live near a park or a wooded path, then get outside and enjoy the sunshine. Vitamin D and a change of scenery are good for the soul.
10. Focus on your faith. Whatever faith, religion, or spirituality you practice, get back in touch with your spiritual roots.
11. Learn how to be happy. Natasha at The Artisan Life offers ways to Be Grateful and Happy and even has a free printable.
12. Learn to Heal the Hate in your life. Forgiveness is extremely powerful.
13. Give thanks for the little things. Find something good in even the smallest things in life. A smile from a stranger. The mail shows up on time.
Gratitude to and with Others
When I was going through cancer treatment, it was easy to focus on the boo-hoos and how much my life truly sucked. The second that I started to reach out to others and practice kindness, my attitude completely changed. It’s amazing how giving to others will fill your own soul.
14. Call a friend or join her for coffee or tea. Have a real conversation where you connect.
15. Give your family a 100 blessing challenge. Pick a time and brainstorm 100 ways that you are blessed. See how fast you can collectively come up with the ideas.
16. Send a card. Like a real card in the real postal mail to a real person.
17. Volunteer. There are a gazillion organizations who can use someone with your heart and skillset. Even if it’s one hour a year, take some time and give back to your favorite organization.
18. Say thank you and genuinely mean it. Slow down. Look the recipient in the eyes. Say thank you from your heart.
19. Practice random acts of kindness. Pay for the coffee for the person in line behind you. Hold the door. Let someone in front of you in traffic. We have 100 Random Acts of Kindness if you run out of ideas.
20. Say “I’m sorry”. Even better – “I was wrong”. Ouch. I know.
21. Say thank you to our Veterans and First Responders. Our Veterans, Police, Firefighters sacrifice their lives for us. Say thank you to them when you see them. If you are at a restaurant and you can afford it, pay for their meal.
22. Express kindness to a stranger. “I like your hairstyle.” “I like your sweater.” “What a beautiful family you have.” Smile and give a sincere compliment.
23. Be kind to those in service. There are certain occupations which often get overlooked. Cleaning people, wait staff, and others are hard working folks who normally don’t get paid a lot. To many, they are invisible. Say thank you. If you see them often, learn their names and address them by name.
24. Banish gossiping and critical comments about others. Another ouch. But you know it’s true.
25. Institute a gratitude share around the dinner table. At the dinner table, everyone gets a turn to share one (or more!) things they are grateful for.
Start a Gratitude Journal
Start a Gratitude Journal. With a gratitude journal, you can keep this list of ideas, create your own, or even keeping track of your own gratitudes. Find a beautiful journal that inspires you and take it everywhere you go.
Gratitude DIYs
Create a collage of photos. Whether it’s a vision board or a simple collage of magazine photos, find what inspires you and what you enjoy.
Create a Blessings Jar. Marty at Marty’s Musings created a Blessings Jar for her family and kids.
Imagine…learning gratitude to build your fortitude… in a super simple way! Click below…
More Great Resources You Will Love
Gratitude Builds Fortitude 30-Day Challenge
Gratitude Builds Fortitude – More Resources and Articles
Share the Love
What about you? How are you practicing gratitude? How are you using gratitude to build your fortitude?
Be sure to tag us @pinkfortitude on social media and use the hashtags #pinkfortitude and #gratitudebuildsfortitude
I can’t wait to see what you are up to and how you are inspiring others!
Are you Inspired? It’s time for more GRATITUDE!
Love, hugs, and being grateful for gratitude.
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