We’ve all had a rough couple of years, and that’s putting it lightly. With everything life has thrown at us, it can be hard to consistently look on the bright side of things, but it’s worth trying to do so. Staying positive and remaining grateful for what you do have isn’t always easy, but it definitely pays off in the long run. Here are a few tips for how you can practice gratitude and keep your inner peace, especially in a world that’s full of way too much negativity.
- Wake up every day and say it. Someone once told me that one of the best ways to ensure your day begins on a positive note is to say, out loud, at least five things you’re grateful for as soon as you wake up in the morning. I’ll admit that I thought it sounded corny at first, but once I tried it for myself, I realized that it was so true! When we start off our day by reminding ourselves of everything we have in life to be grateful for, we’re more likely to go into the day with a positive mindset.
- Don’t immediately reach for your phone. One of the hardest habits to break, for me at least, was reaching for my phone as soon as I wake up in the morning. It’s so tempting to turn off your alarm and immediately start scrolling through social media but honestly, that’s just asking for negativity. If you start off your day by looking at pictures and posts of what everyone else is doing and has, you’re going to immediately start comparing your life to theirs and you’re not going to be able to feel any gratitude for what you already have. Try to stay off of social media for the first hour of your day. It’ll make a huge difference.
- Meditate. Doing some form of meditation or therapeutic activity is a great way to have a quiet moment in your day and to really soak everything in and feel gratitude. That can look different for everyone. Some people meditate and others do things like yoga or journaling. Whatever helps you relax and take a moment for self-reflection is going to be a great way to practice gratitude.
- Take pride in what you have. It can be hard to feel proud of the things we do have in our lives when it seems like other people around us might have more or better things than what we do. Regardless of what you have in your life, taking pride in it is a great way to practice gratitude. You might not have the biggest or most updated house, but you can still make it your own and take care of it. You might not be working your dream job yet but you can still perform your current job to the best of your abilities. Doing the best with what you have reminds you of all of the great things in your life and will remind you to be grateful.
- Have gratitude gatherings with friends. A great way to practice gratitude is to have regular gatherings with friends and family. Have a monthly dinner where everyone brings something to eat or drink and you all get together to visit, laugh, and just enjoy the simplicity of each other’s company. There’s nothing like being surrounded by people you love to remind you of how much you have to be grateful for.
- Give back to your community. Giving back is an amazing way to feel gratitude. In the vicious cycle of comparison, we often forget that there are people who look at us and think we have everything anyone could ever want. Perspective is a huge part of gratitude. Find a place near you where you can volunteer and donate your time, energy, and resources to those in need. Not only is it putting goodness back into the world but you’ll be reminded of what you have and feel grateful that you’re able to give back to others.
- Cut out negativity. Negative mindsets do nothing good for us. Do everything in your power to eliminate negativity from your life by fixing your thoughts and surrounding yourself with positive people. Unfortunately, you’re going to come across individuals who complain about everything and will try to suck you into their negativity. Do your best to tune those people out. They’ll only be counterproductive to what you’re trying to accomplish.
- Remember what’s most important in life. At the end of the day, stuff is just stuff. Money is just money and your job is just your job. The real important things in life are things that can’t be bought or taken away from us. How we feel about ourselves, our outlook on life, the relationships we have with the people we love, and our goals and dreams for our futures. When you choose to focus on those things above the other things, you will be so much happier and feel much more gratitude.
- Romanticize your life. It might sound a little weird but trust me, it’ll make a huge difference in your life. Romanticizing our everyday, somewhat mundane tasks helps us to see the beauty in everything. Do everything in life with purpose and intention and every day will feel meaningful for you. When you’re able to take in every moment and truly appreciate it, you’ll feel more gratitude every day and your life will in turn feel more fulfilling.
