How To Be More Grateful

Thanksgiving is upon us, and as the name of the holiday reminds us, it’s the season of giving thanks.

Gratitude is one of the most powerful tools for our happiness and wellbeing, which is especially important to tap into during the busyness of the holidays. Research in the field of positive psychology proves time and time again the countless benefits of practicing gratitude. Being grateful is associated with more feelings of happiness, less stress, better health, restful sleep, and overall feelings of contentment with life.

So, how does one practice gratitude? We believe that gratitude is truly a lifestyle—something that you can be practicing in the moment at all times.

Here are a few of our favorite, simple ways to practice gratitude:

Go On Gratitude Walks

When you’re on a walk next, try thinking of one thing you’re grateful for every single block. Look up and notice your surroundings. Is the sky a beautiful blue? Count that. Are the leaves stunning shades of red and orange? Count that. Are you wearing a jacket to keep you warm? Count that. It’s all about the little things!

Keep A Gratitude Journal

The tried and true practice of keeping a gratitude journal is one of our favorite practices. We like to keep a small journal on our nightstands and write down five things from the day we are grateful for. This way, when you expect to be writing something at night, you are more consciously searching for things throughout the day to document.

Write A Gratitude Letter

Is there someone in your life you are incredibly thankful for? Someone you don’t know how you could live without? Tell them. Better yet, write them a letter and bonus points if you read it to them. Our friends at Soul Pancake conducted a great study in the science of happiness that concluded when you actually tell someone why you are thankful for them, you can significantly increase your own happiness.

Do A Gratitude Meditation

Take a few moments each morning to pause and take some deep breaths. This could be two minutes, five minutes, or 10 minutes. Choose a word to meditate on such as “peace” or “thank you” and quiet everything from your mind except those two words. This will connect you to the moment, and calm your nervous system. A little bit of gratitude goes a long way! Start by trying one practice and see how it positively impacts your life.