Until a few years ago, I never really thought about gratitude. I was thankful for my the people and things in my life and where I was, but I tended to focus on the negative a bit too much, both for myself and for others.
My inner critic was LOUD and constantly reminding me of all the things that weren’t going so well in my life. The things I hadn’t accomplished yet. The ways I was falling short as a wife, a mom, a sister, a friend, and an employee.
My growth in gratitude all began with a weekly ritual in my online fitness group: Friday Wins. Every week, regardless of what obstacles came our way, how many workouts we did or didn’t do, how many cookies we did or didn’t eat, we all showed up on Friday to celebrate a win. To find one thing, big or little, that went well for us that week.
At first it was hard for me to participate, but it very quickly became my favorite moment of the week. I could see that it was necessary to celebrate the small things (like catching up on your laundry) right along with the BIG things (new job, new baby, etc.). And slowly my mindset started to change.
Having gratitude and being truly thankful are skills just like any other. Like most things in life, you’re probably not going to be good at something without a little practice.
November is the perfect month to start a practice of gratitude.
4 Ways to Practice Gratitude
Give yourself grace
It’s hard to be positive, kind, and thankful for the world around you if your inner monologue is always set to “Debbie Downer.” In a world that is constantly changing its expectations and demanding more of your time and attention, it’s easy to fall behind. Start with what you can control: The voice in your head.
End the day (or the week) by reminding yourself of something you accomplished, something you did well. Give yourself a gold star (my favorite) or a high five (yes, really). Write it down so you can look back on your accomplishments over time. Tell a friend about it. It IS OK to toot your own horn once in a while.
Get a gratitude journal
When I decided to start making gratitude a regular practice, I got a gratitude journal like this one. There are loads of options out there, but this one was full of inspirational quotes and simply asks you to write down three things you are grateful for each day.
It only took me a few minutes before bed every night to fill it in, and most of the time they were small: A coffee date with a friend, a funny sign I saw on the way to work, an act of kindness from a stranger, my husband doing something helpful around the house.
When you’re in the habit of looking for the “good,” you’re more likely to see more of it. Over the course of the year I really began to see how much goodness there is in every day.
Surround yourself with GOOD things
There is no shortage of bad news out there when it comes to traditional news and media outlets. There are occasional happy or uplifting stories, but they are too few and far between. That’s why it’s so important to seek out and add positive media to your regular rotation. Apps, books, and podcasts are three great ways to bring more good into your life.
There are tons of app options, but Shine Text is one of my favorites. It sends you a free daily text with inspirational quotes, motivational tips, and positive mindset strategies. You can even customize it to a particular area you want to focus on (like being present). They recently added an app with a paid version that includes audio clips as well.
I’m still a newbie when it comes to podcasts, but there are tons of great ones out there. The Brilliant Balance podcast is one that’s been helping me lately as I navigate the complexities of being a working mom. I’ve also heard great things about the Rise Podcast, by Rachel Hollis. For more ideas, check out this post on podcast recommendations.
As for books, my reading time has pretty much disappeared since I had a second kiddo. But I’ve got LONG list of books I’ve heard great things about. Here are a few: “Girl, Wash Your Face” (Probably on your reading list too), “Year of Yes,” by Shonda Rhimes and “For the Love,” by Jen Hatmaker.
Get family and friends involved
With Thanksgiving at the end of the month, lots of people are focused on being more thankful, which makes it the perfect time to get others involved. Start a regular “Thankful Thursdays” post on social media, or if you’re more ambitious, make it a daily post of something you’re thankful for.
At work, suggest a positive outlook or positive focus to start or end each meeting. Or create a shout out box/jar where employees can share the good deeds and jobs well done by their fellow co-workers.
At home, ask your family to share one thing they’re thankful for each day. Some of my friends have created a thankful jar for their family to fill up this month or a thankful wreath to add to daily and watch it grow. There are loads of cool ideas and free printables on Pinterest to make it easy.
I’m far from having a positive mindset all the time, but these strategies have helped me to stay positive in the hard times (like losing a grandma and a job in the same week) and the weeks when life is just a bit more complicated than usual.
If you’re new to the concept of practicing gratitude, which strategy do you plan to try? If you’ve been in the habit for a while, what are your favorite ways to practice or show gratitude? I’d love to hear your ideas.
