There are hard times every one of us faces in our lives. Especially during these weird times we live in, it can be hard to find a way to build a positive outlook on life.
Gratitude is a simple yet powerful thing that can help you change your attitude for the better. It is a skill that allows you to be thankful. In a time when it’s so easy to be fearful of everything around us, taking a few moments to be grateful changes your mindset and gives you hope. What better way to fight fear than with hope?
Being grateful matters and helps. Here are some tips on how to feel more thankful on your own. Once you start reaping the benefits of gratitude, the next logical step is to find a therapist that can help you boost these positive emotions even more.
Keep a gratitude journal
Keep a little notebook with you and set aside some time every day to write down the things that make you smile whether it's a warm gesture from your best friend or a job promotion. You don't have to write complete journal entries; simply jot things down that bring you joy. This informs your brain that a lasting pattern exists — a life theme, even — of gratitude.That way, if you’re having a particularly rough day, you can look back through the pages of accumulated blessings in your life.
Focus on what you have
Too many people never realize they have things to be grateful for because they spend so much mental energy focused on what they don’t have. Forget about social media posts and advertisements that inevitably promise you more fulfillment and joy in life. Those things are not sold in stores—never have been, never will be.As humans, we have the natural tendency to compare ourselves with others with the hope of attaining satisfaction. More often than not, it does the opposite! You will always be meeting someone more prosperous, more attractive, more successful, and more intelligent than you are. A comparison will just rob you of your self-worth and make you feel inferior to others.
Remember to say thank you
By verbally showing how thankful you are to the important people in your life, you bring more happiness into your own life. No matter who the individual is, they love to hear your appreciation, and you will see how good it feels to give it. This is a quick way to remind yourself that you are surrounded by people who support you.In relationships, couples who express gratitude toward one another set up a powerful feedback loop of intimacy and trust, where both partners feel as if their needs are being met. Doing so creates a more joyful relationship that lasts long.
Be grateful for the challenges you face
Gratitude is not only about being thankful for positive experiences. Sometimes thinking about negative or difficult situations can help nail down what you have to be grateful for.Dig a little deeper into some of your own past experiences and try to figure out how they have helped shape you into the person you are today. You will see that some events that seemed too hard to handle back in the day helped you become the better, wiser person you are today.
Appreciate everything, no matter how small
Gratitude doesn’t have to be saved for the “big” things in life. The habit of being grateful starts with appreciating every good thing in life and recognizing that there is nothing too small for you to be thankful for.
Learn to be present at the moment
The habit of being fully present and not wishing for something in the future or the past—but just being grateful for what is—can shift your perspective. Catch yourself when that moment escapes you, and gently remind yourself to come back.Why is gratitude important?
Gratitude involves noticing the goodness in the world, but it doesn’t mean being blind to the tough stuff or the mess that can get all of us from time to time. Gratitude makes sure that amid the things that serve up a good dose of negative feelings, we don’t lose sight of the good.Besides those day-to-day wins, you can also be grateful for broader things that haven’t necessarily been given to us by someone, such as improvements in your health, a safe place to sleep, or friendships.
Gratitude shows that we’re good to be in a relationship with and appreciate certain things without expecting them. When there is an open display of gratitude in our relationships, both people are more likely to repeat the giving and the open-hearted receiving.
Gratitude lets us hang on to the positive for longer and celebrate the good in our lives that we might otherwise move on too quickly from. It creates more room for other positive emotions – connection, happiness, appreciation, joy. More good feelings mean less room for the toxic ones.
