To practice gratitude we must first go backwards, recall who we once were as a child – in the most simple and untarnished of forms. Think of who you were before the world told you who to be. Remember when your standards for happiness weren’t so high? When counting the stars in the sky or stomping in puddles made the whole world seem like magic? Go back there.
“Live simply so others may simply live.”
Mother Teresa
We spend our whole lives growing up only to pile on the fears, worries and stress of adulthood. Eventually we forget the simple things that bring joy.
Young children don’t have this extra baggage. That is why they live life full of awe and wonder. They live life with eyes wide open, taking in every new experience through an untarnished lens.
The key to practicing gratitude is simplicity. When I witness moments of awe in my children, it reminds to view life through the lens of gratitude and appreciation for the simple things.
Dress Your Mind
Practice gratitude daily by mentally dressing your mind in the morning. Dressing your mind is just as important as dressing your body. Leave yesterday’s setbacks to yesterday and tomorrow’s worries to tomorrow.
Start your morning thanking God for a brand-new start, a day full of new possibilities.
Find a picture of yourself with a genuine smile and stick it on the wall of your closet where you can see it every morning. Look at that picture every morning and remember the blessings that made you smile.
Make your bed every morning. It will give you a feeling of accomplishment that will give you momentum for the rest of the day.
Get up an hour before any one else so that you have time to unwind with an activity that brings you peace – read the bible, meditate, take a walk around the neighborhood.
Savor Simple Moments
Practice gratitude by savoring simple moments. If you chase joy in material things, you will always be chasing them. The chase for worldly things will always leave you wanting more. There will always be something bigger and better to attain.
Instead, bask in the small and simple joys. Savor them as you would your favorite cup of coffee or tea. Let these moments slide down your throat, feel them hugging your soul.
For me, I find joy in throwing the tennis ball in the backyard with my dog or digging for seashells at the beach with my daughters. When I sit on the couch next to my husband at night, I feel gratitude for the beautiful life we have created.
Ask your children what makes them happy. I guarantee you they will be the simplest of things. My daughter’s list includes yellow flowers, lollipops, and rainbow colored cupcakes. Write them down and save them for a time your child needs to be reminded of what makes them smile.
Keep a Gratitude Journal
Practice gratitude by keeping a gratitude journal. Take a few minutes at the end of the day to list five things that brought you joy throughout the day. This will help to clear the lingering negative thoughts swimming around your mind. You can use your journal as a pick-me-up anytime you need a reminder of all the good in your life.
Make a separate list of things that bring you joy and do them. My list includes running on the beach, fishing, telling funny stories with my daughters. Create a bucket list of things you want to do with your family and post it on a communal wall. Then each time you check something off, place a picture next to it or create a family collage. These will serve as visual reminders that trigger feelings of gratitude and joy.
Embrace Imperfection
Practice gratitude by embracing imperfection. We let the constant comparison hijack our thoughts so that unknowingly we aren’t living in the presence of our own lives. We miss out on small moments of our own joy.
As you grow older, the need to be perfect grows stronger. We live in a constant world of comparison as we scroll through social media comparing our lives to the picture-perfect lives of others.
The truth is no mom is perfect even if it may seem so on the outside. Despite the perfect lives displayed on Facebook, everyone has the imperfect underbelly of real life that isn’t posted. We all muddle through our own challenges – late nights of work while attending to a sick child, the anxiety of keeping your kids safe, the mind crushing toddler tantrums, the never-ending laundry piles, dirty dishes, etc. Those are the things we don’t see posted.
Nothing is ever perfect and I don’t want it to be. My blessings exist in the chaos. Those laundry piles are high because of the little bodies that are in a constant state of motion. Those dishes are dirty because my family is well fed. Those tantrums are frequent because little minds are growing.
It is in the chaos that I’ve learned to swim with the current, to weave in and out of the waves as I navigate a life full of blessings.
Seek Gratitude in Giving
Practice gratitude by looking outwards. When you help others, gratitude shows up in abundance. Small simple acts of kindness interweaved throughout your day will upgrade both your outlook on life as well as your overall well-being.
When you notice someone going out of their way to complete a task at work, acknowledge their efforts. Tell a cashier that they are doing a great job today. I’m sure they’ve encountered their fair share of grumpy customers and could use the boost.
The key is to pay attention. Notice others all around you. It’s so easy to walk through life with blinders on, not giving a second thought to those around you. Change that mindset and challenge yourself to connect with others through kindness.
Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”
Mother Teresa
The best cure for a bad day is helping another person in need. If you are having a difficult time seeing your own blessings, go out and help some one else.
Live Life Holding God’s Hand
Most importantly, practice gratitude by holding God’s hand. What a beautiful thing it is to live life holding God’s hand. When you are having difficulty seeing your own blessings, God will show them to you. You just need to ask.
In moments of joy, hold his hand and say thank you. In moments of sadness, hold his hand and ask for comfort. In moments of anxiety, hold his hand and ask for stillness.
He will always see your inner child even when you can’t see her on your own. He will find a way to remind you that she is still there, waiting to be set free. Just hold his hand and He will lead you back to her, that little girl running barefoot in the grass smiling with her face towards the wind.
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