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Monday, July 1, 2019

Top Reasons to Practice Gratitude with Tips to Help You Do It


Selfcare Practices for Gratitude



It's simple to develop or deepen a gratitude practice, yet the impact it makes on well-being is phenomenal. 

This post has been updated 5/13/2021


Gratitude Helps You:


See goodness in your life, instead of taking it for granted.

Improve your sense of well-being.

Enhance relationships.

Shift perspective to positives.

Reduce stress.

Lighten your mood.

Create energy that helps you feel fully alive.

Empower yourself.

Generate compassion and generosity toward others.

Tap into the lovingkindness inside you.

Kindle inspiration and creativity.

Sleep contentedly.

Integrate mind with body to boost immune system, develop resilience to setbacks, and lower blood pressure.

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See what I mean? Giving thanks stimulates those warm, fuzzy, feelings as well as improves overall wellness.

Please try the techniques listed below. Each is intended to help you make a gratitude practice a mindful part of your self-care plan.

3 Tips to Help with a Gratitude Practice

1. Write in a Gratitude Journal 

Designate a paper bound notebook or journal as a 
gratitude journal. Use a pen with ink in the color you consider to be a grateful  color. Try using a marker, chalk, or colored pencils if you prefer. 

Journal writing is a tangible, grounding way to acknowledge and record the gifts in your life. Writing with colors adds color energy to the mix, and helps you tune into your senses and the present moment. 

Whether you journal every day, three times a week, or once a week, commit to a regular time to journal. Then, honor your commitment. 

Gratitude Enhances Self-care



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2. Send thank-you notes
  

Handwritten thank-you notes are a meaningful way to show others you were touched by their words, gestures, hospitality, understanding, time, or effort. The note can be brief, but make it as specific as possible. Mention the other person's act of kindness, and what it meant to you.

Sit down with your children, after they have received a gift. Discuss the idea that presents and other acts of kindness like a new book or toy or an outing to the beach with a friend's family aren't their birthright. 

Teach kids a valuable life lesson by following through. This is a good way to help children develop a lifelong practice of acknowledging gifts in their lives. If they are too young to write, a picture can say thank you too.

Make gratitude part of your self-care routine. Notice those people who make your life richer. The first month, send one of them a written thank you note. Then look for and send a thank you note to someone the next month, and so on.  Then, take a moment to write and mail a thank you note to yourself.

Be kind and send a simple thank you note or at least call when you receive a gift. Set a good example for your children. E
xpress your thanks in person, email, or over the phone.

Just remember, nothing beats a thank-you note written on paper and sent in an envelope. It conveys the message that you took time to do it, and are grateful for that person's thoughtfulness. In fact, it can turn an acquaintance into a friend. 

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3. Curtail complaining for 24 hours 

This is a big one. Rather than find fault with others or yourself, ma
ke a healthier choice and search for hope and possibility in every situation. 

This applies to difficult people or conditions at work, at home, in your community, with social contacts, and with world leaders and issues. 

A challenging or stressful incident can teach you much about your inner strengths, and heighten patience, courage, and resourcefulness. 

First, admit you're uncomfortable when people don't act the way you think is right or things don't go your way. 

Look at this need to control with self-compassion. Then use kind eyes to lighten your perspective. A 
 gentle attitude helps reduce anxiety, stress, and self judgment. 

Non-attachment allows you to observe which things you are powerless over, or reveals solutions you may not have thought of before. 

Use this practice of not complaining one day at a time, and each day start fresh. Observe things without finding fault, and you'll have clear vision about what is working in your life.


Gratitude Enhances Self-care


Gratitude Improves Your Outlook




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Before you go please comment in the space provided below.

What helps you focus on gratitude and what happens when you do?

Which of the 3 gratitude development practices above haven't you tried, but appeal to you? Please explain.

Have you reaped the rewards of a gratitude practice? In what ways?

Please don't put links in your comment, as I won't be able to publish it that way.

Thanks for the visit and know that I'm grateful for YOU!
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42 comments:

  1. HI Nancy,
    Excellent article. I love #3 U I think we all need to do that - I know I do. I going to try it for 24 hours & not complain or be negative about anything if I can.
    Sharing on social media.
    Have a healthy, happy & blessed day.

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    1. Glad you saw my post and I'm with you. Thanks for the social share. No complaining for 24 hours at a time sure is challenging, but I think we're both up for it. Happy Tues. and be well.

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  2. This is a great post. I find that gratitude has a domino effect - when I am grateful for one thing, my eyes are opened to so many other things to be grateful for. I really like the idea of a Gratitude Journal, and think I will start one for myself!

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    1. Thanks Julie aka The Farm Wife for the visit and compliment. Yes, I agree with you. Gratitude does have a domino effect and I'm so glad it does. Journal writing helps us record that positive gratitude energy. I like to re-read what I've written about gratitude, when I'm having a hard time. It helps lift my spirit again!

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  3. I just responded to another blogger friend that I started a gratitude journal at the beginning of the year but I have slacked off over the past couple of months. Two posts with the same theme within minutes of each other must mean I need to start journaling again. Thank you for the reminder and have a safe and fun 4th of July.

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    1. I’m a big believer in synchronicity Clearisa... so go for it. Wishing you a happy, safe July 4th too.

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  4. There's a few people I know who need to read this blog - they moan far too much and never seem grateful for anything when in fact they have so much!

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    1. Thanks for the visit and comment Rosie. Wishing you a grateful day.

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  5. Thank you for laying out the benefits of gratitude, Nancy, and for the practical tips on incorporating it. I do keep a line-a-day journal, and for the most part it has become a gratitude journal, a listing of the good things that happened that day. I don't send out as many hand-written cards as I should, but it just so happens I sent one this week. I have taken the 24-hour no complaining challenge in the past. I'm inspired by your post to try it again. Thank you for linking up at #BloggingGrandmothersLinkParty. I will share on social media. Have a lovely, gratitude-filled day.

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    1. What a great idea... a line-a-day journal. I'm going to try that in addition to the one I do regularly. Thanks for reading, commenting, and social share. XOXO Wishing you a grateful day.

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  6. I love using my gratitude journal! It is the best investment I have made and I don't know why I didnt do it sooner! Excellent post!

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    1. Thanks for the visit AnnMarie. I've found gratitude journal writing puts the focus on positives and sounds like you agree. Have a wonderful evening and be well.

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  7. Thanks for linking up at the #BloggingGrandmothersLinkParty 39! If you haven’t already, I’d like to invite you to linkup this post and more at the UNLIMITED Monthly Link Party (open for 25 days) and the Wednesday AIM Link Party.

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    1. Thanks Dee for the visit, hosting, and reminder. Have a beautiful day!

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  8. Hi Nancy, such an inspiring post! This is the second post I've read today that has discussed the many benefits of journaling, so I think I'd better hop onto that one now!

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    1. Hi Candi, Thanks for your kind comment. Sounds like synchronicity all around. Just today while I was journal writing, I found journal writing to be a powerful self-awareness tool, one with many positive benefits. Thanks for the visit and happy Friday.

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  9. Yes, yes, yes I totally try to foster a spirit of gratitude. I always enjoy visiting you Nancy!

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    1. Hi Carol, You are so right. Gratitude is the way to go. Speaking about blogs..especially love those flowers at Comfort Spring Station. Have a Happy day.

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  10. Thanks for linking up at the #WednesdayAIMLinkParty 40! Shared ♥

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    1. Thanks Dee for hosting #WednesdayAIMLinkParty and visit to Colors 4 Health with social share. Have a beautiful day.

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  11. Such great gifts! I love the idea of thank you notes. I think we all need to send more thank you notes.

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    1. Thanks Amy for your comment and visit. Handwritten thank you notes don't need to be a lost art. Let's revive it! Have a great weekend and be well.

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  12. Thanks for linking up at the #UnlimitedMonthlyLinkParty 2!

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    1. Thanks Dee for the visit, comment, and hosting. You do a big service to bloggers, and I for one am grateful.

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  13. I couldn't agree more! Mindfully complaining less has been a blessing to me. Pinning!

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    1. Dear Helen, Mindfully complaining less is sure a good way to go. Thanks for the visit and social love. Have a fabulous day!

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  14. The not complaining for a period of time is a biggy and something well worth trying! Thanks Nancy, all your ideas are spot on! #mlstl

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    1. Thanks Deb for the comment and visit. I'm happy to wish you a complaint free day!

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  15. Well I can tick a couple of these off - I have a Gratitude Jar that I fill each year with a weekly note of things I'm grateful for. I then empty it at the end of December and tuck the notes away for later reading, and start a new one in January.
    I haven't sent a Thankyou Note for a long time, but will keep it in the back of my mind.
    For Number #3 I did a 30 day No Complaining Challenge a while back and it made a big difference to my life at a time when I was under a lot of stress - complaining less has a huge impact on our perception of the world and helps us be more proactive.
    Thanks for linking up with us at MLSTL and I've shared on my SM :)

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    1. Thanks Leanne for the visit, comment, and hosting MLSTL. I appreciate that. As far as #3, when I'm tempted to complain, I remember a blessing in my life, and refocus attention on that. Doesn't work every time, but it does reduce negativity. Thanks for the social media help too. Have a beautiful day and be well.

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  16. Wonderful reminders, Nancy, and I love the idea of keeping hand written thank you notes alive and part of a practice of gratitude. So much is done electronically and with smart phones today, it's good to take the time to actually pick up a pen.

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    1. Thanks Candi. Agree, picking up that pen is almost a lost art, but not if I can help it. Have a beautiful day and be well.

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  17. Nancy, I love this post! I keep a gratitude journal and I get great pleasure in handwriting it! Great post!

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    1. Thanks so much Sylvia for your comments an visit. have a beautiful gratitude filled day.

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  18. Hi Nancy what an inspiring and motivating post as I do believe that many of us get too caught up in life to stop and be grateful. I love the idea of hand written thank you notes which sadly don't happen often in this technological age. I also like the idea of not complaining for 24 hours, making us more mindful of how we think and feel. Thank you for being part of the #MLSTL community and I'll be sharing on social media. xx

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  19. Thanks for the visit, comment, and social support. Guess what? I'm grateful for you. Hope my readers will join your journal challenge this month on FB. I know it sure has helped me. Have a wonderful day and be well.

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  20. Congrats Nancy! Your post is FEATURED at the #BloggingGrandmothersLinkParty 40! Party starts tonight, August 1, 2019 at 9:00 PM Central.

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    1. I'm am so GRATEFUL Dee for this honor. Love #BloggingGrandmothersLinkParty 40!and a BIG thank you to you.

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  21. Visiting again to say thanks so much for linking up with me at the Unlimited Link Party 26. Pinned!

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    1. Thanks Dee for your comment, social share, and hosting the Unlimited Link Party 26 (every two weeks there's a new party). Love the new schedule for posting and invite my readers to check it out. Have a great Sunday.

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  22. It's so much easier to complain than to be thankful. I try to remind myself that God is in control of everything so if He has allowed something in my life, He has a good purpose in it. It helps me to be thankful.

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    1. Appreciate your comment and glad you dropped by. Have a lovely day and yes. Let's be thankful!

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