In my last article, I spoke about the 5 scientifically proven benefits of gratitude. What we learned is that a gratitude practice can help us in very real ways. Things like helping us make more progress toward our most important goals. And it can protect us from more negative or draining states such as stress, anxiety, and depression.
Gratitude can literally help us shift from limiting beliefs, worries or fears to more positive states of happiness, connection, abundance and love. When we’re appreciating something, our ego steps aside so we can connect with something deeper. Gratitude also brings our attention into the present, which is where life happens. Perhaps the best news about gratitude is that it requires little time and no money to cultivate.
I’d say that’s a must for our everyday lives, wouldn’t you agree? Especially for those of us juggling a business or career and personal life. Yet it’s important to know how to best incorporate it in real and effective ways.
(Plus, I have a special gift to help you make it even easier to cultivate gratitude at the end of this article!)
Want to hear how gratitude has changed my life? Tune in here:
How to Practice Gratitude
Here are 3 proven gratitude practices you can try today:
- Keep a Gratitude Journal. This practice is simple yet profound: write 3-5 things in your journal that you are grateful for each day. You can keep it brief, but take the time to really connect with the feeling of gratitude. To experience the difference gratitude can make, commit to doing this for at least a month.
- Intentionally Acknowledge What You’re Grateful For. What you put your attention on expands in your life. So by simply offering gratitude for all the blessings you experience, you’re inviting yourself to notice and receive more of the positive — more of what you enjoy and want. Try saying aloud the things you are most grateful for, especially when you may be feeling anxious or overwhelmed.
- Mentally Count Your Blessings: Do a mental review at the end of your day and think of 3 things that you’re really grateful for. You can do this on your drive home, just before you go to sleep, or even in the shower. If you’re feeling stuck, ask yourself:
— Who or what inspired me today?
— What brought me happiness today?
— Where or when did I see something beautiful?
— What made me laugh today?
— What brought me comfort or peace today?
— What important lessons did I learn today?
So how do you practice gratitude? You might appreciate the beauty of a sunset; enjoy a walk outside; feel grateful for waking up refreshed; a conversation with a good friend; listening to a favorite song; help from a colleague with a challenge at work. All of these things are important to mentally document (and write down!) so you know what helps you the most.
Any of these gratitude practices has the power to transform your life in a very positive way. But everyone is different in what might work for them.
That’s why I want to offer you a few more gratitude action steps that can greatly impact your work and life (and ones I’ve seen major results with for my clients – and in my own life).
Grab a free copy of The Attitude of Gratitude: 10 Ways to Feel More Grateful Today.
Once you take a peek, let me know what you think by sending me a quick email. What’s most important is that you take a few moments to focus your mind on your blessings and allow yourself to connect with the feeling of gratitude. That’s the essence of a gratitude practice.
So as another Thanksgiving holiday is upon us… what are you grateful for today? Let me know in the comments below!