If talk of practicing gratitude has you feeling skeptical, take a breath before you shut down the conversation. Toxic positivity is often misconstrued as gratitude. As a result, people mistakenly believe that practicing gratitude is about viewing the world through rose-colored glasses. That’s not accurate. Learning how to practice gratitude can actually help you appreciate the unique nuances that make life rich and interesting.
Practicing gratitude regularly can also bring numerous benefits. As the Mayo Clinic reports, studies have demonstrated that it can boost immunity, improve sleep, and lead to better moods. Gratitude is also linked to reduced risks of certain diseases, less chronic pain, decreases in depression, and lower anxiety. In addition, it’s associated with greater resiliency. Those kinds of benefits put discovering how to practice gratitude on many people’s to-do lists. Thankfully, there are several ways to go about it, so you can find a practice that suits you.
Ways to Show & Experience Gratitude
Use Your Senses
Focusing on the senses puts a person in touch with the physical world around them. Smell, sight, touch, sound, and taste encourage you to think about the small things that are happening at a particular moment in time. They may also trigger a strong memory that you can process.
Create a Gratitude Jar
Calm suggests setting up an attractive jar, vase, or box. Place slips of paper and a pen or pencil beside it. Every day, write something that you’re thankful for on a slip of paper. Then, drop it in the container. If you’re having a rough day, you can review the container’s contents for a pick-me-up.
Volunteer
Helping someone else builds connections and makes people feel like part of something bigger. Oddly enough, it also tends to inspire fulfillment and a sense of gratitude. Find a cause, donate your time, or perform an act of kindness.
Reflect on Negative Experiences from the Past
Past experiences shape people’s perceptions. While you don’t want to dwell on bad memories, occasionally reflecting on negative experiences from the past can help you chase away old shadows. The contrast will hopefully allow you to appreciate the good things in your life now.
Choose Words Wisely
According to Mindful, people who embrace an attitude of gratitude incorporate words of abundance. Their language uses words about gifts, blessings, and good fortune. However, it doesn’t focus on the wonders they do. Instead, their dialogue discusses the good things others do and the joys they encounter along their journey.
Say Thanks
Expressing gratitude can strengthen relationships. When someone around you does something that you’re grateful for, make it a point to say thank you.
Keep a Gratitude Journal
Why is a gratitude journal on almost every list of how to practice gratitude? Writing about the daily events that delighted or challenged you and how they brought positivity into your life is a fantastic way to process things. It encourages you to build a daily habit. It drives you to be observant every day in search of things to journal about. Then, the act of writing offers time to reflect on events. Finally, you have the journal to return to whenever you want to review your thoughts.
Be Inspired by the Gratitude of Others
Building a habit will often carry you through, but there are inevitably times when motivation falters. Readers Digest recommends reinforcing your gratitude practice by looking around for others who seem to incorporate attitudes of gratitude in their daily lives. Note their methods for practicing gratitude. Then, consider if similar strategies might work for you. You might also find inspiration in books, movies, music, positive news stories, and other sources.
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With so many different ways to practice gratitude, there’s sure to be one that resonates with you. Changing to a new method can keep things fresh, so you can claim the numerous mental, emotional, and physical health benefits that are associated with a regular gratitude practice. At the Shores of Lake Phalen, we’re grateful for the opportunity to provide amazing support for the residents of our community.
Are you looking for a community with a positive, healthy atmosphere where your loved ones can enjoy their golden years? The Shores of Lake Phalen may be just the place. It’s an assisted living and memory care community in a quiet, peaceful environment in Maplewood, Minnesota. Surrounded by a gorgeous wooded setting between two lakes, our residence offers the accessibility of apartment-style housing with the atmosphere and elegance of a resort. We offer numerous health and safety amenities, fun events and activities, a friendly and accommodating staff, and much more. Schedule a tour of the community to explore our spacious apartments and more.