Want to Change Your Life? Start Practicing Gratitude.

The idea of practicing gratitude to change your circumstances and your life is probably not totally new to you. But even though you may have heard about gratitude being a game-changer, you may have no idea how to practice gratitude. As someone who firmly believes in the power of practicing gratitude as a means to rising into your truest self, I wanted to share these tips with you on how to practice gratitude, so you can get started (and reap the rewards) right away.

Benefits of Practicing Gratitude

I believe that practicing gratitude will deliver countless benefits to you, but don’t just take my word for it — even science recognizes the power of acknowledging and giving thanks for the things in your life. Seven scientifically proven benefits of practicing gratitude include:

  • Better physical health
  • Better mental health
  • Less anger and more empathy
  • Better sleep
  • Better self-esteem
  • Better mental stamina
  • Better (and more) relationships

Amazing benefits, right? Again, I believe these are just a start. I’ve found that gratitude also puts me and my clients into a better alignment, brings me closer to my truth, and allows me to be a better mother, wife, business owner, and servant to my tribe.

How to Practice Gratitude

Now that you know the benefits of practicing gratitude, you’re probably ready to dive right in and see if this gratitude thing can really work for you. (Spoiler alert: if you commit to a daily gratitude practice, it can — and will — work for you!)

Step #1 – Start a Journal

You’ll want a place where you can write your gratitude each day, so if you don’t already have a journal, now’s the time to get one. A regular notebook will work fine, too. Just choose something that feels good to you and where you’ll be happy spending time each day.

Step #2 – Write Down Everything You’re Thankful For

Every morning think of ten things that you are grateful for.

Well, here’s another time to express it: whenever you feel overwhelmed with problems. Every morning  think of ten things that you are grateful for.

You see, if you have challenges in your life that are dominating your thinking—a shortage of money, a business problem, a relationship problem—you will have a tendency to focus on the problem. And by doing that, you add energy to the problem. And then the problem grows.

The next time things don’t seem to be going your way, just stop what you’re doing, and think about all of the things you have to be grateful for. I know that’s a pretty tall order, but if you do it, everything will start to shift in an instant. Just like snapping your fingers. When you change the way you look at the problems, the problems will change.

I like the way Wallace Wattles puts it in “The Science of Getting Rich.” He said, “The grateful mind is constantly fixed upon the best. Therefore, it tends to become the best; it takes the form or character of the best and will receive the best.”

Step #3 – Stretch Yourself… And Think Ahead

Stretch and think deeper. Dig into your relationships, both with others and yourself. Are you grateful for a solid marriage? A best friend that’s there for you no matter what? Your sense of humor or your nurturing instincts? Dig really deep here and try to identify something new each day.

I also want you to pick an area you’d like to develop and begin practicing gratitude for it before it’s actually here. For example, if you have a desire to release weight, feel gratitude for a body that enjoys movement and responds quickly and positively to being fed healing foods.

Step #4 – Write and Review Every Single Day

Practicing gratitude is a great way to start and end the day and set the day up for a positive flow. At the end of the day, you can also review the list you created in the morning, or you can make a new list that includes whatever made you feel thankful throughout the day.

There are no hard and fast rules to this, but I do suggest also ending the day with a gratitude practice, so you drift off to sleep in a state of peace and contentment.

As you can see, setting up a daily gratitude practice is not rocket science, but it does take commitment. Once you get into the habit, you’ll no doubt see changes and you won’t want to be without it. So relax and enjoy — an attitude of gratitude RULES!

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Yours in success and happiness,

Helene