There are countless ways to be be practical with our gratefulness.
- Gratitude Journals
Perhaps the most famous person in this day to popularize this method of having a gratitude attitude is none than Oprah Winfrey.
Oprah consistently shares on her show that she maintains a gratitude journal in which she records the things that she is thankful for. Oprah even dedicates an online journal section on her website.
Simply, a daily gratitude journal is a very powerful process that forces our mind to focus on the positive things in our life when we write them down. And even more so powerful when we can look back and read them during the trying times.
- Gratitude Rocks
What an idea, eh? If this is the first time you are hearing about gratitude rocks, the idea is simple. You find a small, smooth stone (you can spend money to buy one or simply pick one from a nearby pond).
You place the gratitude rock some place where you will come into contact with it throughout the day, for example, your pocket, on your desk, etc. Whenever you come into contact with the gratitude rock, you think of something you are grateful for.
- Gratitude Affirmations
This helps you maintain a gratitude attitude in a most powerful way as well. Writing down a list of things you are grateful for, (including what you expect) will get your mind focused on the positive life you are creating.
Doing the gratitude affirmations, however must come from a place where your thankfulness is genuine and heartfelt, not just going through the motions.
- Gratitude Quotes
Print out these
gratitude attitude quotes
and hang them up where you can see them throughout the day, or at least every now and then during the day.
- Meditating upon that which we are grateful for
Simply sitting in silence and intensely focusing on something we are grateful for. During a session like this, you can simply use a mantra such as "I am so happy and grateful".
- Practicing Compassion
Compassion connects us with our fellow humans and the universe as a whole. Compassion lets us focus on our gift of love and connection. Deep compassion allows to have that sense of gratitude for our connection to others, as opposed to our imagined separation.
- Contribution and Giving Back
Whether it is by giving to charity, tithing to your religious organization, spending time with those we love or sharing our knowledge to help others succeed; giving back is the clearest form of gratitude.
We release feelings of gratitude into the universe when we freely give back. In so doing, we also create a vacuum to receive more. Or, as spiritual guru Catherine Ponder put it, "when you open your arms to give, you open your arms to receive".
- Writing Gratitude Notes
Whenever we receive good service, most of us might tip the service person and move on with our lives. How much more powerful would it be (for you and that other person) if you took a minute or two to write a gratitude note and slip it in with the tip?
Or perhaps writing a note, even once a week, once a month, or once in a while, to the people in your life that have impacted you in a positive way?
- Paying it forward
This one needs no explanation. But watching the movie "Pay it Forward" might give you a really good feeling right now. An excellent way in helping us further our gratitude attitude.
