“Wear gratitude like a cloak, and it will feed every corner of your life.” – Rumi
I am a strong believer in the act of gratitude. As we course through the journey of life, various rocks are thrown at us. These rocks could come in form of financial distress, emotional wrecks, spiritual drought, and many more.
But, you know I believe that there is always something to be grateful for. I know that sometimes it looks like things are playing out exactly opposite to what you desire, but life always gives us something to smile about, something to hold on to and hope.
Gratitude helps you live a rich and full life. It helps you focus on the many amazing things that have happened, and feeds your zeal to push for more.
I’d like anyone reading this to join me in a little exercise. Ready? Now, close your eyes (ok, you’ll have to open them now so you can read on) Take a deep breath in.
Good. Now exhale, slowly. That’s all! As minute as it might seem, you are alive. And that is all that matters at the moment. So, you should be happy and grateful for it and the other beautiful things in life.
Why Is It Important To Be Grateful?
Being grateful is proof that you acknowledge and appreciate what you have. With the fast-paced world that we live in, it is not uncommon for us to get caught up in the loop and lose sight of what really matters in pursuit of our wishes and desires.
Gratitude is an outburst of inner joy and happiness. When you are grateful, you create an atmosphere of positivity around you, which uplifts your spirit. It helps you connect to the energy of the universe, to something bigger and greater than you can imagine.
Gratitude allows you to relive beautiful experiences and moments and keep the feelings evergreen in your heart. I like to describe gratitude as a seed in a garden; it is likened to watering and tendering a garden.
It allows you to thrive, but beyond that it makes you appreciate the small things of life. Happiness comes in little packages, and it is with gratitude that you receive of life.
How Does Gratitude Change Your Life?
When you live a life of gratitude, your focus is shifted to the good things around you. You can spot the light and attract positive energy.
Also, Being grateful improves your life. The more gratitude you express, the more satisfaction and fulfillment you derive. It helps you achieve inner peace and serenity.
There is a long list of ways gratitude changes your life. When you build a lifestyle of gratitude, you are able to hope and work towards improved conditions.
Does Gratitude Really Work?
Gratitude is a tool for transformation, a very effective one. It keeps you optimistic and feeds your energy. And yes, gratitude works.
If you are always around people who complain a lot, you might feel the negativity from them and if you’re not careful, you might start living out their realities.
Among your colleagues or acquaintances, observe your response to those who appreciate and are grateful for even the smallest of things.
Note how you feel when you are around them. Now compare this with your relationship with grumpy people and complainers. Hope you see the picture here.
Gratitude works, and I can attend to it. It is refreshing and takes away tensions and strife. When you are grateful, you do not see the need for unhealthy competitions. You build healthy relationships with people when you are grateful, and you attract more kindness.
What Is An Example Of Gratitude?
There are so many examples of gratitude, but I want you to look out for something, the attitude of gratitude. Every expression or example of gratitude carries this: one of contentment and appreciation.
- Let us see some of these examples:
- Saying thank you to the security man who opened the door for you at the office.
Acknowledging your colleague at work for a good job. - Sending out love notes to friends and family members.
- Sending out gifts is also an example of gratitude.
- Giving hugs is also another example of gratitude.
- Celebrating an individual, even outside special occasions like birthdays or anniversaries, is a show of gratitude.
- Volunteering for a charity organization in your local community or religious organization too is showing gratitude.
- Community service too is showing gratitude.
- Keeping your environment clean and green: planting trees, reducing toxic waste too, disposing of waste properly, are all displays of gratitude.
- Prayer is an example of gratitude.
What Should I Put On My Gratitude List?
Having a gratitude list is one proven technique that you can employ to consciously remind yourself to live a life of gratitude. A gratitude list contains pointers to things to be grateful for.
On your gratitude list, you should have personal things and collective things that you are grateful for. And it should encompass every area of your life, from your physical to health, financial, and even spiritual life.
What Are 3 Things You Are Grateful For?
Let’s make this interactive. Take out a piece of paper and write out three things you are grateful for. Take your time to reflect, and don’t be in a hurry to mention any.
Just be relaxed as you point out these three things for which you are happy about. Have you done that? Keep it somewhere in your room throughout this week. If you don’t mind, you could mail it to me, send it as a direct message on IG or comment at the end of this post. It would really gladden my heart to have you share it with me.
Well, it’s my turn to list out three things I’m grateful for. Here goes:
- I’m grateful for my life and how far I have come.
- I’m grateful for my family, for friends, and the people around me. They are really special to me.
- I’m grateful for you, yes you. And this virtual community that we have built together. I always look forward to writing to you and getting feedback. You all are the best.
Things To Be Grateful For
Each aspect of your life offers you various reasons to be grateful. Here are some major things to be grateful for. All others fall under these.
- Be grateful for your health (Health Gratitude)
- Be grateful for your finances (Financial Gratitude)
- Be grateful for your environment (Environmental Gratitude)
- Be grateful for your spiritual life and awareness (Spiritual Gratitude)
- Be grateful for the random things that happen to you (Random Gratitude)
- Be grateful for the little things that happen to you.
- Be grateful for other things in your life.
Health Gratitude
When we talk about health, it is not streamlined to only your physical state. An individual’s health comprises physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
There are so many reasons to be grateful for your health. It is a fundamental part of your being on which all others are hedged upon. Every aspect of your life where you are making progress is because you feel healthy and ‘good to go’.
So, here are a few reasons why you should cultivate gratitude for your health.
1. Be grateful for your body, and how it has carried you thus far.
2. Be grateful that you can enjoy meals and derive energy from the foods that you eat.
3. Be grateful that your body and mind are in sync when you are going about your daily activities.
4. Be grateful for recovery after major or minor injuries.
5. Be grateful for medications, and how they help your body fight infections, germs, and diseases. Being responsive to any form of treatment is something to be happy about and appreciate through gratitude.
6. Be grateful for your growth. You’re probably taller, weigh more, and are much prettier than you were say ten years ago. Good health is the reason for this growth.
7. Be grateful for your heart. Every beat means that blood is being pumped and flows through your body.
8. Be grateful for your brain. It can respond to stimuli, process information, and respond to your immediate environment.
9. Be grateful for the natural detoxification ability of the body. Your kidneys and liver work overtime to flush out harmful and toxic substances from your bloodstream.
10. Be grateful for your skin, from the beauty of it to its protective functions and how it regulates your body temperature.
11. Be grateful for your nose. It is very beautiful, and more than this, it performs very critical functions. It aids respiration, helping you breathe in and out. Also, it helps you smell all the beauty of nature, roses, different fragrances, and much more (well, including the other stuffs).
12. Be grateful that your body and mind allow you to work out and exercise. Your muscles and joints are actively involved in physical exercises and also your mind too. Being able to kick off a routine or workout program means that they are in good working condition. You should appreciate this.
13. Be grateful for the loud and subtle ways your body talks to you to keep you from health complications. For example, the blinking of your eyes, and also your skin hair standing to keep you warm.
14. Be grateful for your sense of sight that you can see the light and colors of life
15. Be grateful for your sense of hearing you have the ability to hear the birds chip, voices of your loved ones, wonderful music, and the trickle of the rain
16. Be grateful for your sense of touch you have the ability to make physical contact with your loved ones and can feel the texture of so many things
17. Be grateful for the sense of smell you can perceive all the nice savors in the world.
18. Be grateful for the sense of taste you can savor on the taste of different things.
19. Be grateful for your mind you can think clearly, profer solutions to problems and store memories
Financial Gratitude
Being financially grateful does not mean you have all the money you desire. Far from it. It actually means that you are content with what you have and appreciate it, even as you work hard and build long-lasting wealth for yourself.
Here are some things you should be grateful for regarding your finances. Appreciating these things can change your financial life and allow you to take on an abundance mindset.
1. Be grateful that you can work and earn money.
2. Be grateful that you can pay your bills.
3. Be grateful for the beautiful things of life that you can afford
4. Be grateful for the freedom that comes with financial independence.
5. Be grateful that you can budget your money and make good financial decisions
6. Be grateful that you can build long-lasting wealth for yourself and your family
7. Be grateful for the things that you can buy with money.
8. Be grateful for all your experiences with money and how it has made you financially wiser.
9. Be grateful that your finances do not trigger anxiety for you.
10. Be grateful for your assets, and everything that brings in money for you.
11. Be grateful that you can unlearn the myths about money.
12. Be grateful for where you are and the amount of progress you have made regarding your financial goals.
13. Be grateful for the little changes you can make in this world, beginning from your immediate environment, due to your financial position.
14. Be grateful that you have a balanced view of money.
15. Be grateful that you understand what money is, an exchange for value, and that you can improve the value you offer.
16. Be grateful for the steps you are taking to build wealth, no matter how small.
17. Be grateful for the many money-making opportunities that you can access.
18. Be grateful that your finances can put your money into a good cause and make people’s lives better.
19. Be grateful for having a job and a salary at the end of the month.
Environmental Gratitude
Waking up each day to the cold winter morning, the pleasant summer sun drops of rain, and the morning dew on the grass is a blessing, one that we cannot quantify.
Whatever part of the world you are reading this from, your immediate environment, from nature to structures in your environment and the people around you, there is so much goodness to cherish and be grateful for.
1. Be grateful for the sun shining up in the sky. For the warmth and light that it brings to your day, and the energy it fills us with.
2. Be grateful for the rain. For giving life to creatures, for blessing trees with their greenery.
3. Be grateful for the smell of nature: fresh, alive, and earthy. Flowers, trees, and shrubs around you.
4. Be grateful for the clean air you breathe
5. Be grateful for the stars in the sky. The brightness of the night, and the beautiful patterns of the constellation.
6. Be grateful for the sounds of crickets at night.
7. Be grateful for the weeds popping up by the walkway or by the edge of your building. They remind us of the resilience of nature and how alive it is.
8. Be grateful for the clear waters and the wide seas.
Personal Gratitude
“Be grateful for what you already have while you pursue your goals. If you aren’t grateful for what you already have, what makes you think you would be happy with more.” – Roy T. Bennett
Your life is filled with so many things to be thankful for. And no matter what phase of life you are in right now: planting, waiting, or harvesting, there is something good to hold on to and be grateful for.
Let us see some personal reasons why we should express gratitude.
1. Be grateful for the challenges that have made you stronger in life
2. Be grateful for your parents who raised and molded you into the person you are today
3. Be grateful for the mistakes that helped you grow as a person
4. Be grateful for not being hungry and having an abundance of food
5. Be grateful for the feeling of acceptance
6. Be grateful for the free time on your “to-do” list
7. Be grateful for the mother who gave you life, nurtured you, loved you, taught you, and supported you.
8. Be grateful for the sense of accomplishment when you complete a difficult task
9. Be grateful for the freedom of choice
10. Be grateful for feeling hope
11. Be grateful for the peace of mind
12. Be grateful for the ability to love and forgive
13. Be grateful for positivity even when things are difficult
14. Be grateful that you can enjoy the small and free pleasures of life.
15. Be grateful for the opportunity to get an education
16. Be grateful for the ability to read and understand. If you are reading this right now you have so much to be grateful for
17. Be grateful for pain as unconventional as this sounds it is very important because, without pain, it would be difficult to appreciate life’s joys.
18. Be grateful for the immense wisdom that comes with age and the several experiences we get exposed to by life
19. Be grateful for taking charge of your fears
20. Be grateful for good health.
21. Be grateful for your friends.
22. Be grateful for your career or business
23. Be grateful for your family.
24. Be grateful that you have a place to call home.
25. Be grateful for the air you breathe.
26. Be grateful for the wisdom and experience of age.
27. Be grateful for your culture.
28. Be grateful for love.
29. Be grateful for your life. It’s a gift
30. Be grateful for time.
31. Be grateful for the mistakes you’ve made and learned from.
32. Be grateful for the kindness of strangers.
33. Be grateful for your education
34. Be grateful for the ability to learn, unlearn, and relearn.
35. Be grateful for the ability to learn something new.
36. Be grateful for your partner or spouse.
37. Be grateful for the technological advancement of this generation. Because of this, our lives are of better quality than that of our predecessors and we can interact with each other without walls or borders.
Spiritual Gratitude
As humans, we must be conscious and totally aware of our makeup. We have a body, a soul (or mind), and a spirit. It is not uncommon to go out of touch with your spiritual self. However, with spiritual gratitude, you stir up awareness and connect with your spiritual self.
1. Be grateful for freedom of religion.
2. Be grateful for your spiritual community and people with whom you share faith with.
3. Be grateful for prayer, a means to connect to a higher force and receive comfort and refreshing.
4. Be grateful for writings and religious books that help you grow spiritually.
Random Gratitude
There is so much to be grateful for if you really pay attention, and we sometimes lose sight of these random things at the pace of our daily lives.
In this part of this article, I want to draw your attention to some of these random things that you should be grateful for.
1. Be grateful for music. Music is soothing to the soul and finding melodies, lyrics, and rhythms that connect with us is worth appreciating.
2. Be grateful for laughter. Pure, uncontrollable laughter that effuses the happiness of moments.
3. Be grateful for your photo albums. The random, happy, and awkward moments of your life you have captured and can relive over again are worth celebrating.
4. Be grateful for being able to forgive and let go of hurts.
5. Be grateful for your music playlist.
6. Be grateful for the feeling that comes with accomplishing tasks after lots of procrastinating.
7. Be grateful for your childhood memories.
8. Be grateful for your new haircut or hairstyle.
9. Be grateful for your love language.
10. Be grateful for the handy things you have created. For family, friends, or even for yourself. Building something from scratch should trigger happiness and gratitude.
Other Things You Should Be Grateful For
1. Be grateful for those addictions and vices that you quit.
2. Be grateful for meditation. Being able to connect with your inner self and shutting out all the noise is really soothing and therapeutic.
3. Be grateful for being able to relax over a board game with family and friends.
4. Be grateful for the smell of freshly prepared food you made coming out of the oven.
5. Be grateful for the people who have pointed you towards life-changing opportunities and those who have helped you build character.
Little Things You Should Be Grateful For
There are seemingly little things that we feel indifferent about but are integral parts of our lives that we should appreciate.
I’ll highlight some of them, and I’m sure you’d be surprised about some of these events or happenings that we can show gratitude for.
1. Be grateful for the internet. To be able to connect with different people across different parts of the world with whom you share core values and principles.
2. Be grateful for your favorite drink brand.
3. Be grateful for free apps that offer great services that help you achieve optimum productivity.
4. Be grateful for YouTube because of these learning platforms, you can take up a new skill or course, or learn anything you want to learn from scratch at your pace.
5. Be grateful for payday at work. It shows how much value you bring to an institution and your relevance as part of a team. You should be proud of your accomplishments and grateful.
6. Be grateful for entrepreneurs that are working to create amazing products that make life easier for everyone.
7. Be grateful for your office space. Whether it’s a small space or a comfortable one, you have harnessed your creative energy and created so much amazing stuff from there.
8. The moments when you laugh so hard you cry.
9. A warm cup of coffee in the morning.
10. Free shipping.
11. Receiving a compliment from someone
12. Having a loving and supportive family
13. The feeling after a good workout, even if it happens very sporadically
14. Having a phone
15. Being able to travel. How cool is that?
Final Words
I am sure you have picked up one or two reasons to be grateful, and that you can begin to live a life of gratitude going forward. If there is something I can attest to, it is the inner peace, calm, and hope that comes with living a life of gratitude. And you know the best part, no matter how little it starts, it always compounds.
I’ll drop a quote of mine here, a personal favorite. “Gratitude never stays alone. It always makes room for more.” Gratitude creates an abundance mentality, and I hope you took a few points here.
Like I always say, start small. We talked about a gratitude list. Maybe you can make a box, and write the things you are grateful for each day and open them by the end of the month (or week, or quarter, however you want) and reflect on it. You would notice the tremendous change from doing so. I’m cheering you on from here.
Save this for later!
