Have you ever heard someone say they have an “attitude of gratitude”? What does that even mean?
Having gratitude means saying more than just thank you. Gratitude is having a deep appreciation and sense of thankfulness for all the positive things in your life. This could mean having gratitude for a person, place, pet, or situation in your life. Embracing an attitude of gratitude can help you focus on having abundance in life instead of scarcity.
It can be easy to have gratitude when things are going well. However, if you are able to cultivate gratitude through difficult times it can help you to remain positive and content during those challenging periods.
Having gratitude can also help build self-confidence and self-esteem, and it can help you to be present and enjoy the moment. This takes consistent practice.
Here are some tips to practice gratitude:
Keep a Daily Journal: Either at the beginning or end of each day, write 1-3 things that you are grateful for in a notebook or journal. This can help you to stay focused on what is positive in your life.
Be Observant: Some days finding something you are grateful for might feel challenging. On those days, try to take note of the "little things" that are going well. For example, you might feel grateful for the beautiful weather on a sunny day.
Express your Gratitude: Reflect on the individuals in your life that you're grateful for. This could be family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, or local service people. Let them know how they have made an impact on your life and why you're grateful for them.