I want to share with you some simple ways to practice gratitude each and every day. The concept of gratitude isn’t new around here. I truly think it’s such an important one when it comes to contentment. When you’re truly grateful for the small things in your life, it’s nearly impossible to complain. Once you begin to make thankfulness a habit, you’ll find that your attitude will improve greatly.
Gratitude Journal
Creating a daily gratitude journal is one of the best ways to acknowledge what you’re grateful for in life. This activity is best performed at night so that you can look back upon your day and determine which events touched your heart and made you feel thankful. Your journal can be in paper forms such as a beautifully bound book or even a simple notebook. If you’re more of a digital type person, It’s fine to keep your records in an electronic platform like a word processing program or online application. The important thing is that you record three to five things each evening that you are grateful for that day. Even the smallest, simplest thing can be a powerful reminder of your good fortune.
Meditation
You’ve probably heard lots of great things about meditation, but you might still be unsure of how it really works. The concept can seem overwhelming and confusing, but it doesn’t have to be. Meditation is merely taking some time to consciously clear your mind of all the needless thoughts you have going on throughout the day. You can simply sit quietly or you may choose to follow a guided meditation. Whatever form you engage in, the point is to focus your mind on the current moment. By practicing this regularly, you’ll begin to train the connections within your brain to work effortlessly in a way that is conducive to cultivating positive results such as enhanced gratitude, improved attention span, and calmer mood. Mindfulness is a powerful tool.
Morning Routine
Another meaningful way to bring gratitude to the forefront of your mind is to create a morning routine in which you reflect upon things that you’re thankful for in your life. Three or four items are plenty, and you don’t have to partake in a formal writing habit as with a gratitude journal. Merely thinking about what brings you joy and for what you’re grateful will set the tone for the day. You can do this while sipping your coffee each day or even during your morning stroll. Again, this habit will help to form the neural connections that keep the positivity flowing.
These are three easy ways to practice gratitude in your life. Give them a try and see if you don’t find yourself feeling more positive and thankful before too long.