Gratitude is a powerful emotion that can turn someone's bad day into a good one. Moreover, expressing gratitude enforces positive behaviour on others. A study carried out in 2003 revealed the overwhelming benefits of keeping a gratitude journal. Perhaps that is why most people practice gratitude by keeping a gratitude journal. However, there are plenty of other ways to practice gratitude as well.
9 Ways to Become More Grateful
Expressing gratitude even for the smallest of things we receive in life is crucial to being happy. If you want to start practising gratitude, follow our 9 ways to becoming more grateful.
Keep a Gratitude Journal
Most people start off their day by reminding themselves of the gifts, grace, and good things they have in life. However, it's easy to forget about them throughout the day; therefore, it is best to keep a gratitude journal and make a habit of reading and writing in it. Setting aside time to recall all the good memories you have and expressing gratitude for them is a healthy practice to remain humble and thankful every day.
Don't Forget The Bad Times
Most people practising gratitude have been through tough times in the past. Their hardships have made them appreciate little things in life and develop a habit of showing gratitude. However, with time, people have a tendency to forget about their tough times and move on. This is not an ideal approach to practising gratitude as one should always keep their difficult times in mind. Remembering the hardships you went through will make you appreciate little things in life and prevent greedy and envy.
Ask Yourself Three Questions
Utilizing a meditation technique called naikan and asking yourself questions can help mindfully practice gratitude. Try asking yourself these questions and find an answer to them from deep within your mind. These questions will stimulate your senses and will help you become more grateful for all the things you have in life.
- What have I received from?
- What have I given to?
- What troubles and difficulties have I caused?
These questions will open your mind to new limits and help you express gratitude most serenely.
Prayers of Gratitude
Prayers of gratitude are the most potent form of prayers in most spiritual traditions, and these prayers hold great value among spiritual leaders. These prayers help people understand their place in the world and help them recognize the ultimate source of all they have been. Additionally, prayers of gratitude are practised in many religions, and people report feeling relaxed and comfortable after expressing their gratitude.
See Clearly and Show Gratitude Through Words
Through our senses, we gain the ability to appreciate all that is to be a human. Our senses of sights, smell, touch, and taste are all exquisite in their own way, and these senses define what it means to be a human. Those who achieve this level of mindfulness express their gratitude through words and don't have to practice their gratefulness in public.
Make a Vow to Practice Gratitude
Research shows that making a promise amplifies the chances of that action being performed. Moreover, taking an oath is more potent than a promise. Therefore, the best way to express gratitude is by writing your gratitude vows on paper and paste it somewhere you'll be reminded of them every day.
Choose a Set Time of Day
You might be inclined to practice gratitude more than once a day. This is not wrong in any sense, but it's important to choose a set time of the day. If you express gratitude twice, make sure you do it once is after waking up and the other is before going to bed. Some people choose to express gratitude without keeping a set time of the day, which becomes an obstacle in their personal lives. Time management is crucial to living an organized life, even if it's about expressing gratitude.
Share Gratitude
Partner with someone to share gratitude with. You might have a spouse or a close friend, regardless of whether your live close by or long distance, partnering with someone to express gratitude is one of the best ways to make a habit out of it.
Moreover, seeing your partners' list of gratitude will make it easier for your to discover things you are grateful for. Additionally, as your email list becomes longer and longer with gratitude, you start noticing your progress.
Don't Stop Once You Start Seeing Results
Most people stop expressing gratitude once they see results. Maybe it's because they get what they wanted or expressing gratitude becomes unmanageable at one point. Regardless of what made you stop practising gratitude after seeing results, you need to get back at it. Many people have reported losing their "Oomph" or that magic that made all the pain go away after stopping. Therefore, once you start, it's best to keep practising gratitude. You can skip a day in the middle, but it's best not to stop completely.
The Bottom Line
Gratitude is a strong emotion that can fix your day and help you feel happy about all the things you have in life—most people who practice gratitude everyday claim to be content and free from pain and suffering. However, the key to expressing gratitude is perseverance. Once you start, you shouldn't stop because you will miss the spiritual experience that was with you when you were expressing gratitude. In summary, expressing gratitude is essential to have a balanced life.