How Being More Thankful in Little Ways Can Pay Off Big Time
Thank you. When was the last time you said those words? How often do you really even say them? If you’re like most folks, you’re not saying, “thank you,” as much as you think. In fact, most of us rarely say, “thanks,” even when someone’s doing us a favor or giving us a gift. How rarely? Only about once every 20 times there’s an opportunity.1 And, yet, expressing gratitude can be really good for us. It ignites positive emotions and lets us focus on what's good in our lives. That can get us to step outside of our day-to-day thinking and start seeing things in a new light. Even the simplest expressions of gratitude can go a long way toward making life happier – or even healthier.
7 Easy Ways to Make Gratitude a Habit (And Make Your Life Better)
So, how can we make gratitude a habit? What simple things can we do to be more thankful and get more out of life?
Let’s look at some easy, meaningful ways to practice gratitude every day.
#1: Choose Gratitude
#1: Choose gratitude
Gratitude is often a choice. So, choose to recognize when you feel appreciation, thankfulness, and gratitude. And remember, embracing feelings of gratitude can be good. But choosing to express that gratitude can be FAR better.
#2: Break for gratitude
Daily gratitude won't happen if you don't make time for it. So, reserve a few minutes at the beginning or end of your day to reflect on what you're thankful for that day. Then, find some small way to show your appreciation, even if you're the only one who "sees" it.
#3: Create a gratitude list
Writing down what you're thankful for means taking the time to take stock of the good things in your life. Whether or not you share that list with anyone, writing it out lets you see many things that bring you joy all at once. That can give you perspective and make it easier to embrace gratitude every day.
#4: Accept what you can't change
In life, we never have 100% control over everything all the time. We never will either, and that's OK. In fact, the sooner we learn to be OK with that and let things go, the better. Worrying about the things we can't change is just a drain. Letting go of them gives us more time to focus on what we can control.
#5: Remember and reframe bad experiences
Don't ignore your bad experiences. When they happen or you revisit them, think about what you've learned and what you'd do differently now. When you reflect on the bad and reframe it in terms of what you've learned, you can see how far you've come since then. That can help you be more thankful for the now.
#6: Write and send "thank you" notes
"Thank you" notes don't have to be elaborate or super formal. Just take a couple of minutes to write a few lines about why you appreciate someone or what they did for you. Whether that's on a sticky note, in an email, or in a card, it'll brighten your day and someone else's.
#7: Give back
Do someone a favor or give to a cause you care about. Finding a way to give back and support what brings you joy can be deeply meaningful. It's also a great way to express your gratitude and enjoy some lasting happiness from it.
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