Every day, I think about gratitude and about how I should try to be more grateful in my life. And every day, it’s a struggle.
When there are so many reasons to want more in our lives, it’s hard to be happy for what we already have. Here are five ways to help you do just that — be happy for what you do have, even if life doesn’t always seem so wonderful at all times.
Stop and Smell the Roses
Okay, so they don’t have to be roses. But they should be flowers. Stopping to smell a flower is one of the simplest, most basic things we can do to tap into our inner gratitude. Our sense of smell is powerful, and combining that with a moment of pause is – truly – revolutionary.
Look at the Clouds
Being grateful is about taking time to stop and pause. Looking at the clouds is a perfect way to do just that. It may sound silly — a bit childish, no doubt – but take a moment and lie down on a spot of grass. Look up, and see what you see around you. Whether you try to find hidden shapes in the blue or just drift away, the act of taking this moment is important to create more gratitude.
Notice the Small Things
A lot of being more grateful is in taking time to see things around you, and small things are better than anything else at making this happen. Take a ladybug, say. A small, tiny thing we often ignore. See it. Now really LOOK at it. You’ll be more grateful.
Take Time with Those You Love
It may seem obvious, but that doesn’t mean you’re remembering to do it. When our lives are busy as busy can be, we often neglect the most powerful asset we have to feeling better on a daily basis – our family and friends. Take time with someone you love today.
Furry Friends
If you have pets, you likely already know how important they are to your well-being. Remind yourself of this when you’re not feeling as grateful as you could be, and take time to spend with one of your furry friends. If you don’t have a pet, that’s okay. Pet a dog you see in passing in your building. Snuggle with one in the park. Be near an animal to be more grateful of our world.
Do you do any of these to become more grateful? If not, what do you do?
Hi Claire,
I really like your article and it is related to the activity that my friend and I started to do since the last 3 weeks. We decided to be thankful everyday for something special in our lives. So everyday in the morning we both send us an email being thankful for health, education, family, friends, etc… I have realized that I’m so lucky to have so many things that must of the times I wasn’t able to see. I highly recommend this activity.
I have been reading your articles for the past months and I really admire your work. I’m deeply interested in contact you via email. Would it be possible?
Thanks in advanced.
Love your articles, Claire. Simple, attainable steps for any person to follow. I’m reading a lot about this topic these days so there must be a shift in people’s perspectives. Perhaps summertime causes us to yearn for simplicity that hearkens back to being a kid running through the grass and playing with beetles in the dirt.
Claire,
I have been using the Simple Abundance Journal of Gratitude that you recommended. So very much to be thankful for, you need a year to set it all down!
Love this post Claire. Simple, yet profound reminders for all of us. I am grateful to you for sharing them with us.
Wonderful post! It reminded me of how important to also see the beauty of life rather than giving more attention to all the difficulties… that is to count your blessings… but don’t stop there… naming each blessing one by one made me a better person and more positive inside.