Gratitude and appreciation are keys that unlock the doors to happiness, success, health, well-being, and inner peace. There’s a good reason the Bible mentions giving thanks, thankful, thanksgiving, etc. more than 100 times. Gratitude is good! Finding ways you can easily incorporate gratitude practices that you enjoy to into your daily life is a game-changer…
Being thankful, grateful, and appreciative every day regardless of circumstances makes your life better in every way. There’s no doubt you’ve heard and seen the verse below before, but have you ever really given its words much thought?
“This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
Psalm 118:4
Always give thanks. Give thanks when everything seems to be going well. Give thanks when nothing seems to be going right. Giving thanks and being grateful always makes everything better. Eventually, you’ll notice gratitude and appreciation become a part of who you are.
Now, put that verse in a place you’ll see it every day. Then, try this for a week:
Start Your Day With Gratitude
Before you start your day, say something along the lines of, “Thank you for this day. Today is going to be a good day.”
Every time you start your day with appreciation for the day and by declaring it’s going to be a good day, you’ll notice more good things, both expected and unexpected come your way. That holds true for anything.
Create Gratitude Notes
If practicing gratitude in this way is something new for you, try putting a note on your bathroom mirror as a reminder to give thanks and make the declaration that, “today is going to be a good day,” as you brush your teeth.
Give thanks before meetings… everything. Declare the [meetings] will go well before you enter the room, i.e., “Thank you for the opportunity to… I’m so thankful that everything is always working out in my favor.”
You might consider jotting down 3 – 5 more specific things you’re thankful for. Put the sticky notes somewhere you’ll see them every day… The dashboard of your car, on the refrigerator, beside the coffee maker. You name it. As you start practicing gratitude, those notes are great visual reminders to flip your gratitude switch on. It only takes a few seconds.
That tiny positive mindset shift creates a change in your energy, and a small change in your energy, changes everything because everything, everything is energy, and everything is responding to your vibration.
Gratitude and Relationships
Give thanks for your relationships. Name things you appreciate about the people in your life. You don’t have to say anything out loud. Just think about how grateful you are for your people.
Send quick texts like, “Just thinking about you. I love you!” That small action takes seconds. Receiving a message like that, can make a person’s day, and sending those short messages will make you feel good, too. As annoying as technology can be, a little message can reach a loved one across the globe in seconds.
Sending and receiving messages can make us feel instantly connected and remind us that we’re appreciated and valued. Upon sending and receiving quick messages, both you and your loved one remember how blessed you are to have each other. Gratitude is a good thing.
Call Things That Are Not As Though They Were
If you’re experiencing anything undesirable in any part of your life, call things that are not as though they were… with gratitude. Give thanks for the circumstances changing before the change is seen.
“Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Hebrews 11:1
Say thank you for those people and circumstances being as like you’d like them to be. With persistence, and by choosing to see and feel things and people not as they are but for how you’d like them to be, you’ll notice changes occur. It’s the law.
Here is an excerpt from my post, “How Gratitude and Appreciation Make You Happy, Successful, and Magnetic”:
It’s proven you can literally think yourself healthy and happy. Simply by intentionally thinking of things for which you’re grateful, you can improve your health and well-being. Contrarily, negative thinking and emotions are detrimental to your health and well-being. Case studies show that negative thoughts and emotions alone can cause death even when no contributing external factors or illness are present.
Making Your Gratitude Practices Habit
Maybe you’d like to start a gratitude journal to write what you’re grateful for before going to sleep each night. If you’re new to the idea of journaling, you might want to try writing only 3 -5 things you’re thankful for before falling asleep. Then, in the morning, try what I mentioned earlier. Give thanks for the day, and declare it’s going to be a good day.
Linking activities is a great way to make any new activity a habit. Link up journaling with bedtime. Link saying you’re thankful for something specific with existing activities, i.e., brushing your teeth, washing your hair, getting into your car, pulling into your driveway, going to the kitchen.
Practicing gratitude is really easy to incorporate into your life throughout your day. None of this takes much time, and doing such simple and easy things each day helps shift your vibration and strengthen your positive mindset. However, consciously start small so that you’ll stick with practicing gratitude long-term.
Once you make practicing gratitude and appreciation as normal as breathing, the results you’ll see and feel are tremendous.
Choose Your Gratitude Practices
Below you’ll find ways you can immediately begin practicing gratitude. At first, you might need to start with just one gratitude practice to get the ball rolling. Later, you may find you’d like to add other gratitude practices to your days. The key is to just get started, and keep going.
Look over the 27 gratitude practices I share. Try those that sound good to you. When you find the gratitude practice or practices that work best for you, do whatever it takes to make your new gratitude practices a habit.
27 Gratitude Practices
1. Start a Gratitude Journal: Dedicate a few minutes each day to write down three things you’re grateful for. This simple practice can shift your focus from what you lack to the abundance in your life.
2. Express Appreciation Verbally: Take the time to tell someone how much you appreciate them. Whether it’s a friend, family member, or colleague, expressing gratitude strengthens relationships and boosts emotional well-being.
3. Create a Gratitude Jar: Write down moments of gratitude on slips of paper and place them in a jar. Over time, this visual representation of appreciation will remind you of the positive aspects of your life.
4. Practice Mindfulness: Engage in mindfulness meditation focused on gratitude. This practice helps cultivate awareness and allows you to savor positive experiences more deeply.
5. Volunteer Your Time: Helping others not only benefits those in need but also enhances your own sense of purpose and appreciation for what you have.
6. Surround Yourself With Positivity: Read inspiring books, spend time with people who think positively, listen to inspiring messages, and limit negative influences and things that make you feel bad
7. Write Thank-You Notes: A handwritten note expressing thanks can have profound effects on both the sender and recipient, reinforcing connections and spreading positivity.
8. Reflect on Challenges: Consider past difficulties that have shaped who you are today; recognizing how these experiences contributed to personal growth can foster deeper appreciation for life’s journey.
9. Celebrate Small Wins: Acknowledge even the smallest achievements throughout your day—this reinforces a positive mindset and encourages continued progress in personal development.
10. Practice Self-Gratitude: Don’t forget to appreciate yourself! Recognize your efforts, strengths, and accomplishments as part of cultivating self-love.
11. Share Your Gratitude Publicly: Use social media platforms or community boards to share what you’re thankful for; this not only inspires others but also creates an environment rich in positivity.
12. Incorporate Gratitude into Family Rituals: Make sharing what each family member is grateful for part of mealtime or bedtime routines—it fosters connection while instilling values of appreciation in children.
13. Create Visual Reminders: Surround yourself with images or quotes that inspire feelings of gratitude—these cues serve as daily reminders to appreciate life’s blessings.
14. Spend time in nature: Whether it’s going for a walk or run outside, watching the sunset or listening to birds chirping, spend time outdoors appreciating the beauty around you; nature has an incredible way of grounding us and reminding us about life’s wonders.
15. Mindful Breathing Exercises: Incorporate deep breathing exercises while focusing on things you’re grateful for—this combination promotes relaxation while enhancing mental clarity about what truly matters.
16. Set Intentions Daily: Each morning, set an intention centered around gratitude; this primes your mindset for positivity throughout the day ahead.
17. Limit Complaints: Challenge yourself to go a day without complaining about anything. This exercise encourages you to focus on positivity rather than negativity.
18. Practice Daily Affirmations: Start each day with affirmations centered around gratitude; this sets a positive tone for everything that follows.
19. Connect with Loved Ones Regularly: Make it a habit to reach out regularly just because; these connections reinforce feelings of love and appreciation between people.
20. Make Time to Disconnect from Technology: Disconnecting from devices allows us more space to appreciate our surroundings and relationships without distractions competing for our attention.
21. Read Books on Gratitude: Invest time developing an attitude of gratitude by reading books about gratitude and how other people practice gratitude in their lives.
22. Limit Social Media Exposure: Reducing time spent on social media can help minimize comparison traps, allowing more space for appreciating what truly matters in life.
23. Share Positive Stories: Share uplifting stories with friends or family that highlight moments of kindness or support you’ve experienced recently.
24. Gratitude Walks: Take walks where you consciously notice things around you that bring joy—nature, architecture, or even friendly faces—fostering an appreciation for the world around you.
25. Journal and Say Affirmations: Develop daily affirmations centered around gratitude that reinforce positive thinking patterns related to appreciation.
26. Cook with Love: Prepare meals with intention and express thanks for the ingredients and nourishment they provide as part of mindful cooking practices.
27. End Each Day Reflectively:Before bed, reflect on three positive experiences from the day; this practice not only promotes better sleep but also cultivates an ongoing attitude of gratitude.
28. Rampages of Appreciation: Say anything and everything you’re thankful for
28. Join a Gratitude Group or Challenge: Connect with like-minded individuals who prioritize appreciation through group activities or challenges designed around fostering thankfulness together!
By integrating these practices into your routine today, you’ll not only enhance your overall well-being but also create lasting habits that enhance your mindset, health, and relationships over time!