6 Simple Ways to Feel More Gratitude Every Day
As we celebrate Thanksgiving and wrap up Gratitude Month, it’s a perfect time to reflect on what we’ve learned, and how to keep Gratitude alive all year.
We’ve explored the many benefits and best practices of writing a Gratitude Journal, the relationship boost you get from a Gratitude Letter, and how you can expand your appreciation through the Web of Gratitude.
Here are six other small but powerful ways to feel Gratitude throughout your day. They are quick practices that train your brain to notice the good things that are all around you. Pick one or two and try them today.
1. Delight: Notice (at least) One Thing That Delights You Each Day
Writer Ross Gay kept a daily “Book of Delights,” where he found at least one small joy every day. When something delighted him, he literally held up a finger and said, “Delight!” Try the same (or just say it to yourself silently). These delights can be anything: the sound of laughter, sunlight through the trees, or an act of kindness. Saying the word marks the moment and tells your brain, this matters. Over time, you’ll start spotting delights everywhere.
2. Savoring: Linger a Little Longer on the Good
You treat eating differently when it is truly exceptional: you slow down, concentrate on the flavors and textures, and take it all in. That is Savoring, and it should apply to anything good in your life. When you notice something good, whether it is food, a favorite song, a shared laugh, a beautiful view, or a moment of connection with a friend, intentionally pause for a few seconds and take it in fully. Taking the time to savor something good strengthens the neural pathways that connect to positivity and trains your mind to focus on moments of happiness.
3. Give Out “Mental Awards”
This one is the most fun. As you go through your day, start giving out silent awards: “Best Cloud Formation”, “Most Beautiful Flower”, “Friendliest Person of the Day”, or “Most Interesting Tree Shape”. Really, any positive adjective can work. Just today, I gave out about 20 Mental Awards while driving and hiking. It may sound silly, but it works to make you seek out and notice beauty and perceive everything in a more positive light. You’ll find yourself looking for things worthy of recognition, and noticing far more to appreciate.
4. Gratitude Pause: A Daily Moment of Appreciation
Pick one daily cue, such as when you start your coffee, brush your teeth, or close your laptop, and use it as a reminder each time to pause for ten seconds. Ask yourself, What am I grateful for right now? These short pauses interrupt autopilot and help shift your focus to Gratitude.
5. Gratitude Walk: Appreciate While You Move
Take a short walk each day with the specific agenda of noticing what you appreciate. Really look at the trees, plants and flowers, the sky, or a beautiful home. A few minutes of Gratitude in motion combines the benefits of exercise, mindfulness, and appreciation. It’s a refreshing way to reset your mood and energy and gradually turn your mindset to one of permanent Gratitude.
6. Gratitude Re-Frame: Turn Routines into Reminders
Everyday chores can easily feel like burdens and are usually done on autopilot. Try reframing them instead. Washing dishes becomes Gratitude for having food to eat. Paying bills becomes Gratitude for electricity, water, and Wi-Fi. By changing how you interpret routine moments, you convert ordinary tasks into gentle Gratitude cues, and start to see how many blessings hide inside daily life.
Carrying Gratitude Forward
As Gratitude Month ends, the goal is to keep Gratitude woven into your everyday life. Not just as something you do, but as a way of seeing the world and how you feel. The more you practice, the more automatic it becomes. Practicing gratitude gradually shifts your perspective and mindset, and brings more happiness and joy into your life.
At Happiful, we believe happiness and success both grow from how you see the world and what you focus on each day. In addition to the Gratitude Journal (which is the most studied and proven technique), these six practices are simple ways to train that focus: one delight, one pause, one thank-you at a time.
We’d love to hear how Gratitude Month has impacted you.
Share one thing you’re grateful for this Thanksgiving on the Happiful Gratitude Wall on Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn. Every post through November 30th is an entry in our final Gratitude Month drawing, and will cause a small ripple of happiness since it’s shared with others.
From all of us at Happiful, thank you for being part of this community and helping to spread Gratitude in the world.
Happy Thanksgiving!
