Some days are a struggle and make you want to be anything but grateful. Sometimes, everything goes wrong from the moment you wake up in the morning. Other times, you’re just sick, discouraged and done with the world. Negative events and emotions keep piling up, and you find yourself in a vicious circle of negativity.
Believe me, I’ve been there. When my IBS is flaring and I feel too sick to function. When my kids are ill for the 80th time in a month and I’m just. So. Tired. Other times, it’s my job that goes wrong, my car that breaks down, and the roof suddenly starts leaking.
Everyone has days, and sometimes weeks and even months, that make you wish that they were over already. And while I usually comfort myself by remembering things will get better at some point, practicing gratitude in these situations can be a powerful tool. Especially in moments that make it far too easy to focus on the negative, shifting your mind to the positive can help you see that not everything is bad. And this can really help you cope with difficult situations.
So, here’s 12 ways to practice gratitude today. No matter how bad your day has been!
1. Be grateful for your health
Sure, you might be feeling sick today. Maybe you’re battling a headache, a cold, or a chronic illness like IBS (I do). But instead of focusing on the bad, decide to be grateful for the good.
If your health allows you to walk and dance and feel the sun on your face, be grateful for that. Isn’t it wonderful that your organs are keeping you alive every day? That your body is allowing you to experience life?
2. Be grateful for your family
Do you have parents, siblings or grandparents who love you? Give them a call and ask them how they’re doing.
Maybe you have a significant other that drives you crazy sometimes. But aren’t you glad to have someone you’re so close to that you can argue about unimportant stuff like doing the dishes?
Be grateful for the people who have been there for you throughout your life. No family is perfect, but that’s okay!
3. Be grateful for your friends
Real-life friendships aren’t the same as movie friendships. Maybe your friends are busy with life and you barely see them. But this doesn’t mean that they’re not there!
Be grateful that random people you’ve met grew so close to you. Be grateful for everyone you enjoy spending time with.
4. Be grateful for your home
Not everyone in the world has a place to call home. If you do, it’s something to be grateful for. And if you don’t love it, maybe think about ways to make it a cosier place.
5. Be grateful for your body
Don’t hate the shape of your body because it doesn’t align with Instagram beauty standards. Love it because it allows you to experience life and work on making your dreams come true.
A great way to show gratitude for your body is to take care of it. Through food, exercise, and by focusing on the good, rather than the parts you want to improve. We all have those!
6.Be grateful for the society we live in
It’s easy to get caught in all the things that are wrong in our society. But not everything is. Shouldn’t you be grateful that you’re free to make your own choices? That nothing besides your own limiting beliefs is stopping you from being happy?
7. Be grateful for happy memories
Speaking of happy, why not practice gratitude for all the happy memories you’ve gathered throughout your life? Each of them is part of your story, and there’s nothing wrong with a bit of nostalgia once in a while.
8. Be grateful for someone who smiled at you
Sometimes, a smile from a stranger is enough to make your day. Or even from a friend, a co-worker, or a person you see on the train sometimes.
Be grateful for that person who took a second out of their day to make you feel better. And be that person to others!
9. Be grateful for the things you own
Think about your comfy bed, the pillow you love, that dress that makes you feel like a mermaid. And be grateful that you own all of it.
The easiest way to enjoy materialistic things is to only keep the ones that make you happy. But even if you have yet to go through the process of decluttering, you can still be happy about the nice things you own.
10. Be grateful for money
Sure, you might feel like you’re always lacking money. But if you have enough to pay rent and eat, then that’s great already. Instead of looking at money as something scarce, be grateful for what it allows you to have.
11. Be grateful for a time you helped someone
Think back to all the times you were able to make someone smile. To relieve someone’s stress. To make someone feel better.
Isn’t it amazing that simple things can have such a positive influence on other people’s lives? Remind yourself that you added good to this world, and be grateful for that.
12. Be grateful for your hopes and dreams
Life feels best when we have something to aspire to. Otherwise, what’s the point of living?
Be grateful for all the goals you haven’t yet achieved. Be grateful for the dreams that you can work towards, today.
There are so many things to be grateful for in life. Even on bad days. Even when you can’t think of anything at first.
This list is not exhaustive by any means, but I’ll leave it to you to find even more reasons to be grateful today. The sun on your skin, the stars in the sky, your children, the food you’ve eaten, or simply the time you get to spend on earth.
What are you most grateful for in life? Let me know in the comments!
And please share this post with your friends. Who knows, maybe they need it today.