If there were a short daily practice that could instantly lift your mood and lead to more positive experiences, would you try it? Creating a gratitude practice is a game changer for creating more happiness in your life. By focusing on what you appreciate, you train yourself to recognize the positive in any situation. With daily practice, you can shift your mood at any time.
When you're having a tough day and fixate on what's going wrong, it can feel overwhelming. However, if you pause and think of three things you are grateful for, you start to shift your internal narrative. That’s a powerful skill!
To begin your gratitude practice, keep a daily gratitude journal and write at least three things you are grateful for each morning or night. Here are some prompts and examples:
- What is one aspect of your physical health you are grateful for? “I am grateful for my eyesight.”
- What is something from you enjoy from your environment (home or office)? “I am grateful for how my dog snores when he’s dreaming.”
- What is something you appreciate about someone in your life? “I am grateful that my daughter shared her new favorite joke with me.”
Challenge yourself to write something new each time. This trains your mind to look for the positives, and over time, you’ll notice more good things in your life.
Gratitude practices improve mental, physical, and emotional health. For such a simple habit, it creates lasting benefits. The impact is even greater when practiced with family or friends for 30 days. As you focus on what you appreciate, you may discover a new perspective on the world around you.
Megan Wilson, a wellness and mindset coach and co-founder of Pneuma Lab has been a certified Life Coach since 2018. She helps people identify and achieve their personal goals by guiding them in her signature processes to connect with their authentic truth.
Step One: Decide if you would like to journal in the morning or as an evening reflection.
Step Two: Get a journal or sheet of paper and pen. Find a quiet space to tune inward.
Step Three: Take a calming inhale and exhale then write three things you are grateful for today.