This year is all about expressing gratitude. People often underestimate the healing power of being more grateful for what you have, and all the blessings in your life that you might take for granted. Starting a gratitude ritual allows you to recognize and appreciate the amazing things in your life each day, and provides a good reminder to keep up with the practice.
Write in a Gratitude Journal
An easy way to have a gratitude ritual is to write in a gratitude journal every day. Use a small journal that you can keep with you at all times, so that every time you feel appreciation or gratitude toward someone or something in your life, you can write it down. You can also set specific goals, such as writing down 5-10 things you are grateful for each day.
Start Your Day Being Grateful
If you need a reminder to practice gratitude each day, pick a specific time of day. One good idea is to be gracious in the morning. Express gratitude each morning when you wake up, whether you say it quietly to yourself, out loud, or you write in a journal in the morning. Be grateful for your home, your life, whatever plans you have that day, the people you love, and anything else you can think of.
End Your Day Being Grateful
Another time of day that is perfect for expressing more gratitude is at night. Try doing this when you are lying in bed at night. Before going to sleep, lay quietly in the dark and close your eyes. Let your mind wander wherever it wants to go, then pick a few of those thoughts and find a way to be grateful for them. This can be grateful for your job, your home, your family, something good that happened that day, or something you are looking forward to tomorrow.
Find One New Thing Every Day to Be Grateful For
While many days, the things you are grateful for are going to be the same, challenge yourself to find something new. It can be any single thing that you did not express gratitude for the day before. Sometimes, it will be a simple daily event like someone complimenting you, while other times you really need to look for something. This practice is great for helping you to understand how many blessings you have in your life, even without being conscious of them.
Start a Dinnertime Gratitude Ritual
Do you want your family to also join in with being more grateful? Dinnertime is the perfect opportunity! Each night before you start eating, have each person say one thing they are grateful for. This can become a habit that your kids grow up being appreciative of.
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