7 Ways to Practice Gratitude: A Practical Guide

When you are dealing with a difficult situation, it can be challenging to see the positive. This is where being grateful can help. It doesn't mean that you are grateful for the difficulties, but instead, you should be showing gratitude for the positive things that are going on in your life, even if they are small. Gratitude can help you see your current situation in a way that can lessen the panic, and open your thinking to new solutions to your problems. Here are nine ways you can practice gratitude and start living a happier life.

Practice #1

Take a moment to notice your day-to-day world from the point of gratitude. When you start looking at things from the point of gratitude you will be amazed at all the goodness in your life that you have probably been taking for granted.

Practice #2

Keep a gratitude journal. Keeping a gratitude journal requires nothing more than taking a few moments at the end of the day and writing down the things that you are grateful for in your life. You don’t even need to buy a fancy notebook to start seeing the benefits.

Practice #3

If you identify something or someone in your life with a negative trait, switch that trait in your mind to a more positive one. For example, if you associate your work conference room as the cold room, start thinking of it as the conference room with the great view instead.

Practice #4

To practice and benefit from gratitude, you also have to practice humility. Humility is defined as being modest and respectful. Take some time to explore where you can fit humility into your life.

Practice #5

Every day, give at least one compliment. This can either be directly or by sharing your appreciation of something in your life. This can be as simple as saying, "I love how quiet it is in the morning."

Practice #6

When you find yourself in a difficult situation, ask yourself what you can learn? Think about when you look back on the situation, without emotion, what you will be grateful for.

Practice #7

Make a vow not to criticize, complain, or gossip for a week. If you slip, rally your willpower and keep moving forward. Take the time to notice how much energy you were spending every day on negative thoughts.

You don't need any specialized equipment to practice gratitude. All you need to do is use your head and your heart.