This is great to practice when you wake up to start your day in gratitude. What three things are you thankful for in that moment? 

For me, gratitude is often pragmatic. We have young kids and often my morning gratitude revolves around whether I had to get up in the night. Or being thankful that the dishes and laundry are done, or that the weather is nice to play outside. 

This is the practice of being reflective. As I comb over my day, maybe things didn’t go very well. But what were things that I can still be grateful for? 

In my case, maybe the kids didn’t nap and proceeded to melt down. But, I enjoyed a few moments of peace when Raffi was playing. Or even though the kids wouldn’t eat dinner, I’m thankful we were able to buy groceries and try and new recipe. 

The simplicity of this activity makes it easy to neglect. What are ways I can remember to stop and be grateful? Can I put a sticky note on my mirror when I brush my teeth? Or if I’m commuting, what about using time at stoplights to practice gratitude and mindfulness? If you’re like me, you may need to set a recurring reminder in your calendar to stop and make time for this. 

Whether gratitude is natural for you or not, we could all stand to be even more grateful. It changes our outlook on life and helps us to be content even in difficult times. 

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Photo by Taisiia Shestopal on Unsplash