Gratitude is a daily practice that can shape a positive outlook on the world. It’s about focusing on what’s good in our lives and being thankful for the things we have. Gratitude can be pausing to notice the things that we often take for granted too, fresh air, food, clean water, friends, family, even computer access. When making suggestions it’s OK to keep it general and simple.
There are so many potential benefits to gratitude like enhanced empathy, reduced aggression, self-esteem boost, ability to deal with adversity, better sleep, stronger immunity, improved self-care, decreased depression and anxiety. For something so small and simple, there is a heap of good that can come from it. Although it may seem pretty straightforward to practise gratitude, there are a few simple steps you can follow to help become a habit or a way of life:
1. Notice good things (big and small), look for them, appreciate them,
2. Savour, absorb and pay attention to those good things.
3. Express your gratitude, write it down or say it out loud.
The final phase of gratitude is the most important, making gratitude a habit. It’s as simple as being intentional with noticing what you feel grateful for and setting time for it every day, consistently. You might want to use a certain task of the day as a gratitude trigger, like every time you brush your teeth, you practise some gratitude.