Do you make gratitude a daily habit in your life?
It’s possible that you often forget to be thankful for everything that has been given to you and all that has happened in your life for a reason.
In our world today, it’s very easy to get disappointed, sad, and depressed about our current situation or status in life.
We are often focused on the things that are not going well rather than the good things we already have.
You might feel sorry for yourself because you think that you’re a total failure for not having a perfect life.
But the truth is, no one has it all together no matter how rosy it looks from the outside.
We all face the same struggles every day in our business, jobs, and relationships so stop beating yourself up.
I fight with this all the time and I’m all too familiar with the issue of not being grateful for what I already have and instead put my attention on what I do want.
The truth is, no matter what we have, we can never be truly satisfied because we keep on striving for more and forgetting to be grateful.
Recently, I found myself complaining bitterly about how miserable I was and how my business wasn’t growing at the speed I wanted.
I was dissatisfied with not achieving my personal goals and how I wasn’t meeting up with others in my industry.
I was on the verge of giving up and sinking into depression when my fiance invited me to join him on a short vacation to clear my head.
I’m so glad I went with him because I had a major mindset shift that will change my life forever.
My fiance took me to a place where I had visited 5 years ago as a job seeker still trying to get a hold in the career world.
It dawned on me that a lot of things have really changed positively in my life since I last visited.
I realized that I am a better version of myself now and I have a bucket load of things to be grateful for.
I also saw hundreds of people on the streets who struggled just to get a good meal on a daily basis and there I was sleeping in a hotel with so much ingratitude.
Have you been utterly ungrateful in your life? Do you find yourself getting angry about your current status?
Do you long for better days ahead where you’ll have everything you want in abundance?
If you said “Yes” to any of these questions, all you need to do is start being grateful for who you are now and what you already have.
Research shows that practicing gratitude and thankfulness daily will improve your level of happiness by 25%.
To help you get started, I’m going to share with you 10 quick ways to make gratitude a daily habit so you can change your life positively.
10 QUICK WAYS TO MAKE GRATITUDE A DAILY HABIT
If you’re feeling down lately and you’re looking for simple ways to make gratitude a daily practice, here are 10 things you can add to your mindfulness to-do list:
1. Make a decision to quit complaining
I’ve discovered that when you complain about something all the time, it tends to manifest regularly in your life because you’re focusing solely on the negative.
One of the first ways to make gratitude a daily habit is to make a firm decision in your heart to quit complaining about all the things that are going wrong.
When you stop feeling frustrated about your current situation, your mind will automatically search for all the good things that you can be thankful for.
2. Stop comparing yourself to others
The major reason why we feel upset and disappointed in life is that we constantly compare ourselves to other people.
Everyone is guilty of doing this once in a while but don’t let it consume you. Remember that we were all created differently and life is a journey, not a race.
It’s easy to get jealous of another person who has what you want but focusing on that jealousy will not give you what you truly want.
You’ll only hate yourself for not meeting up when you keep comparing your status with others.
I recommend staying away from social media sometimes to curb the urge for comparison.
Don’t spend your time scrolling through feeds and wishing to be like other people. It’s a total waste of time that should be used more productively.
3. Start a gratitude journal
Cultivating the habit of journaling will help you put your attention on everything that is going great for you.
When you wake up in the morning and before you sleep at night, take a few minutes to count your blessings.
Feel grateful for most things you have been taking for granted like the warmth of the sun, the smell of rain, the sound of birds outside, and a clear blue sky.
Write down all the things you’re thankful for in a gratitude journal and be grateful you have these luxuries.
Remember to be appreciative of all you have so that more will come.
Many people out there don’t have even a quarter of what you have and they wish they could have your life. So learn to be grateful for some of your privileges.
4. Say “thank you” more
How many times do you say thank you for something you receive, a compliment that is thrown at you, or a service that is done for you?
Most times, we forget to be thankful to the people around us because we’re too busy or too entitled.
We often feel that we’re superior and deserve some accolades. Gratitude is a positive habit that will increase your levels of happiness.
When you say “thank you”, you’re not only doing it to put a smile on someone’s face but to make you feel grateful for what you receive.
Learn to say “thank you” for every good thing someone says or does to you no matter how insignificant you think it is.
5. Appreciate the little things
When was the last time you were really grateful for the rays of the sun on your face or the sound of rain drops on your roof?
We take most of these things for granted because we are not asked to pay for them and they are present without our direct effort.
Despite the difficulties that we might be experiencing, it’s important to acknowledge the little things in our world and be grateful for them.
Take a long walk in nature on weekends and appreciate the comfortable environment you live in and the peace of mind you have.
6. Meditate twice a day
What I love most about meditation is that it helps me turn my mind away from all the negative things while allowing me to experience total ease.
When I meditate, I feel like someone has lifted the heavy burden from my shoulders and given me space to clear my mind.
Daily meditation practice will give you energy, release anxiety, and calm your nervous system. When you lower stress, your body benefits.
Studies show that meditation increases optimism, strengthens memory and focus, improves sleep, lowers blood pressure, and more.
One of the biggest benefits of meditation is spiritual rather than physical — it helps you connect to your intuition.
You’re able to get out of your own way, turn down the volume on fear, and let the inner voice of inspiration guide you.
If you want to make gratitude a daily habit, start meditating twice a day consistently, and watch how your life will improve positively.
When you meditate, it has a ripple effect that helps others and changes the energetic state of the world.
Meditation is a gift to yourself and a gift to the world.
Set aside 15 minutes to meditate every day and pay close attention to your inner voice for guidance.
To achieve faster results, listen to subliminal audios while you meditate. It will ease your anxiety and make you more focused.
7. Count your blessings
Do you often count your blessings? Do you recount how far you’ve come in your career, business, or relationships?
I’m often guilty of counting my losses instead of my blessings. Most of us concentrate more on our failures and not our successes.
If you want to be truly happy, look back at your past and recount your accomplishments so far.
Don’t be too hard on yourself. Give yourself a pat on the back for all you’ve been able to achieve.
Enjoy a good treat and pamper yourself when you achieve a goal no matter how small.
8. Smile often
Have you heard that frowning makes you older? Well, it’s entirely true!
I’ve noticed that when I’m sad or depressed, everything I do tends to become chaotic but when I’m deliberately happy, everyone is affected by my positive aura.
When life gets difficult, do things you genuinely enjoy to lift up your spirits.
Listen to good music, have a spa day at home, read an interesting book, or do whatever makes you happy.
Learn to smile more even when things aren’t going your way.
When you greet people or give presents, wear a smile on your face. Don’t be mean to people because you don’t know what they are going through.
A smile could make someone’s day so be generous with it. Share a smile with everyone you meet regardless of the situation.
You’ll feel better and life will be much easier when you make extra efforts to smile.
9. Be thankful for everything
Some days when I wake up, I’m truly grateful for being alive because I know not everyone who goes to bed, wakes up the next day.
So, be grateful for everything you have like nature, the air you breathe, good health, the ability to do a lot of things that others can’t, access to electricity, and many more.
Just take a few minutes each day and say how grateful you are for every single thing. Even when all hope is lost, give thanks, and have faith that all will be well.
10. Give something valuable to someone
You may assume that a gift must be something tangible but it’s not compulsory.
A gift can be anything thoughtful that puts a smile on someone’s face.
You can give compliments, money, your time or talents to improve someone’s life and make the world a better place.
When you contribute in any way you can, you’ll experience an avalanche of positive emotions that will make your day brighter.
Being grateful is the most important thing you can do for yourself and the world in general when everything is in chaos.
Learn how to make gratitude a daily habit so your level of happiness can increase by 25%.
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About The Author
Jennifer Dagi
Jennifer Dagi is happily married to her best friend and the love of her life.
As a relationship coach, she is passionate about helping couples build healthy and happy relationships.
She strongly believes communication and intimacy are the most important ingredients for building a successful relationship.
Join her on a fabulous journey to improve your love life one step at a time and don't forget to subscribe for weekly blog updates.