An attitude of gratitude means making it a habit to express thankfulness and appreciation in all parts of your life, on
a regular basis, for both the big and small things alike. “Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” ~William Arthur Ward. Every day won’t be perfect but focusing on what we are grateful for tends to wash away feelings of anger and negativity. And in addition to improving mood, studies show that feeling and expressing gratitude leads to better physical health as well.
So, for me what works well is expressing gratitude for 3 things in my life as soon as I wake up. This helps me start my day vibrating on a high frequency. I couple this with not look at my phone for at least the first half hour of the day. We all have something to be grateful, for example if you’re reading this you can be grateful for your ability see and read, not everyone has that luxury. This least is endless. Try compile your own list and you will be surprised. Below are some ideas
1. Make and share a list of someone’s good traits Every time you notice something wonderful about a friend, write it down. When you have a nice little list gathered, share it with him or her to express how thankful you are for his or her wonderful traits. That could make someone's day.
2. Write a handwritten letter (not just a note!) A handwritten thank you is one of the most effective ways to express gratitude in an era when most people simply jot off an email or a text. But when was the last time you wrote a letter to express your gratitude? Get some paper, a pen, and take some time write a full page letter to a loved one, expressing your gratitude for everything they’ve done for you.
3. Forgive someone who has hurt you Forgiveness might not sound directly connected to gratitude, but when you forgive someone who has hurt you (with or without an apology), what you’re essentially doing is expressing gratitude for the lesson learnt and for the opportunity to experience compassion for someone else. Forgiveness, mind you, does not condone the wrongdoing. It merely offers you a chance to free yourself from resentment and anger, which is self love.
4. De-clutter and donate Choosing to donate item's (e.g. old clothes) to those in need is not only a kind thing to do, but also a way of expressing gratitude for the time you were able to for example wear those clothes, for those who made the clothes, and for the opportunity to pass them along to someone in need.
5.Put your phone away when you’re with people One of the absolute best ways to express your gratitude for others is by doing your best to be fully present in their presence. This is not always easy but try your hardest to put your phone away when you’re interacting with others. Doing so will allow you to be more appreciative of the experiences you have with them.
Try the above out. How about you? What do you do to express gratitude?
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