Cultivating feelings of gratitude is important and will benefit you greatly.
In addition to listing things you are grateful for, it is also important to adopt activities you can do every day that can help you feel more grateful about your life.
These activities can help you foster a sense of gratitude, especially on days when you just can’t.
1. Morning Gratitude
We all want to start our day right. In order to do this, it all comes down to our morning routine. Therefore, every morning, while you are having a cup of coffee, or as soon as you open your eyes, think about the things you are grateful for.
It can be as simple as being grateful for the coffee you are drinking, the smell of coffee, the beautiful morning, the comfort of your bed, and the quiet before you start your day.
These are all simple things to notice to feel grateful, and you can expand from there. Anyway, there is nothing wrong if you are just grateful for the things in front of you in the morning as they are enough.
2. Give Thanks Before Meals
When you give thanks before every meal, you let everyone know that it took hard work to get the food on your table. It’s an excellent way to just stop and be aware. On the contrary, it is something that helps you feel blessed that you have all the food and nutrition you need.
You don’t have to be religious to give thanks before meals. It can be as simple as saying thank you to what’s in front of you and the people who made it possible. You can also write your own “thank you” message that you can use before the meal.
3. Do Daily Reflections
Ending the day with negative thoughts about the day can prevent you from feeling grateful. A great way to break this habit is to set aside time for reflection at the end of each day.
For example, before you leave work, why don’t you think of three things you are grateful for for the day on your way home. You can also write it down and leave it on your desk so you can read it the next day.
You can also do this before you go to sleep. Reflect on the day and identify the things that went well and that you feel grateful for. Remember, it doesn’t have to be a big deal. Little things can go a long way. In fact, when you focus on the little things that went well that day, you realize that there are so many things you should feel grateful for, especially when it’s the kind of day when feeling optimistic is almost impossible.
4. Create Something tangible
Creating something tangible will be an effective reminder for you to feel grateful. One thing you can do is to create gratitude stones where you can write the things you are grateful for. You can keep them on your bedside or bring it with you to the office.
Having something to hold improves its effects on your day. Also, it’s helpful when you’re feeling so stressed and negative to have something you can pick up, touch, and hold to make you feel calmer and more relaxed.
