How To Add Gratitude To Your Daily Life


Gratitude is something I never practiced prior to my mother’s passing.  I thought it was something that occurred naturally and didn’t require any extra effort.  Boy, was I wrong.  


Merriam-Websters dictionary defines Gratitude as “the act of being thankful with the readiness to show appreciation in return”. 

Scientists believe that even the small acts of gratitude can have benefits that are beyond our imagination.  It’s tied to increased positivity, increased self-esteem, lower blood pressure, and decreased stress responses to name a few.  


The funny thing about gratitude is that it actually helps you more than the person on the receiving end and there is nothing more life-changing.   It’s so easy to find things to complain about which in turn brings about more stress, but finding the gratitude amongst the negative, amongst the hurt and amongst the indifferent will offer you life-well-lived.

below are several ways to get you started on your Gratitude Journey:


  1. Keep a gratitude journal: Writing down the things you are grateful for allows you to keep track and refer back to the positive times in your life. 


  1. Tell someone face to face how much they mean to you.


  1. Practice gratitude during tough times.  See through the situation and reverse it with a positive thought or gesture.


  1. Write down your favorite or most inspirational quote and place it somewhere in your viewing space.  Reflect on it several times a day.


  1. Challenge yourself to go an entire day or two without complaining.  This will create a path for positive thinking and gratitude to come through.


  1. Feel gratitude in the present.  Acknowledging what’s surrounding you at that very moment and what about it makes you feel grateful. 


  1. Ask yourself these 2 questions every morning when you wake up or every evening before going to bed
    1. “What are you grateful for today”?
    2. “What are you grateful for today that you did not have a year ago”?        


         8. Be Accepting if gratitude comes your way.




-Oprah Winfrey-

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