30 Ways to Practice Gratitude

Gratitude is more than expressing a quick thank you. It's not just an attitude. Learn more about the incredible benefits of gratitude here. Gratitude is a practice that requires us to acknowledge good in even the most difficult situations. It's the key to manifestation. Gratitude takes your mindset from a place of lack to a space of abundance, perspective, and reflection. The holiday season is an excellent time to begin to put these practices into place, but it's bigger than journaling or dropping a quick thank you at the end of your email. After practicing gratitude continuously with these ideas, it becomes second nature, and your energy will expand into new horizons. 

1. Make a List. Write down three things that happened today that you are grateful for. 
2. Write a Thank You, Card. Send a thank you card to a friend, family member, past client, etc. Someone who might not be expecting it.
3. Be Mindful of Your Thank You. Set an example for your kids. Say thank you to as many people as you can throughout the day.
4. Take a Walk. Notice the beauty and express thanks for the beautiful world we live in.
5. Inspire Others. Write a social media post, and do an Instagram story about one thing you are incredibly grateful for. 
6. Thank Your Partner. We often need to remember to recognize our partners' everyday support and contributions. Say thank you to them today.
7. Write Down Two Things. Jot down something that may have been hard for you, and reflect on how being grateful for those experiences made you feel.
8. Meditate. Life gets busy, and it can be hard to get quiet to count your blessings, meditate and appreciate the clarity.
9. Thank your Child's Teacher. Write an email to your child's teacher and express three things you appreciate.
10. Pay it Forward. Buy the person behind you a coffee in the drive-thru or pay for their items.
11. Start a Grateful Jar. Each day put something into a jar you're grateful for and read at Thanksgiving. Encourage your family to do the same.
12. Write a Letter To Your Future Self. In this letter, compliment yourself, and share your strengths and obstacles. You can also include your hopes and dreams for the future in this letter. Doing this allows you to recognize where you are now and where you will go.
13. Write a Letter of Thanks to Your Kids. Write a letter to your kids expressing what they mean to you and how they have enhanced your life, and hide them somewhere for them to find. 
14. Pet your Dog for 10 Minutes. Spend time sitting and petting your animal, expressing the gratitude you have for their unconditional love.
15. Leave a Positive Review. Did you buy a great product? Eat at a great restaurant? Did you get a great haircut? Leave a positive review!
16. Share One Thing Your Grateful for During Dinner. Have a discussion on gratitude at dinner, and have everyone share one thing they are grateful for from their day.
17. Set an Alarm. Set the alarm and label it as gratitude. It puts counting your blessings at the forefront of your mind.
18. Make a Donation. Find a charity you support, donate food to a local food pantry, or drop off a bag of clothes you no longer wear. 
19. Take a Deep Breath. Taking a deep breath requires you to slow down and be grateful for the air you breathe and your health. 
20. Leave a Larger Tip. Express gratitude to the person who was just of service to you, those extra couple of dollars could change someone's day.
21. Surprise Someone with Flowers. Bring flowers to a friend, the school security, the bus driver, or the mail carrier. 
22. Send a Text to a Friend. Send a simple note expressing the positivity they bring to your life.
23. Forgive Yourself. Show gratitude by forgiving yourself for regret, a past situation, or whatever it is you might be hanging onto.
24. Keep a Gratitude Journal. Whether you use a written or digital journal, use this time to reflect on the things you're grateful for. Make a habit of writing in it daily. 
25. Join a Facebook Community. Join a gratitude challenge or a Facebook group honing in on reflecting gratitude. 
26. Think about What Your Body Does For You. Thank your body and all it does for you. Reflect on the things you require from your physical health. 
27. Volunteer. Find a local charity that needs volunteers and dedicate a few hours. 
28. Think of Three Things That Make You Laugh. Reflect on things that have made you laugh this week, and I guarantee they will make you laugh again. 
29. Reflect on One Thing You Learned This Week. What did you learn this week? How has it impacted you? 
30. Take Photos. For 30 days, take a picture of one thing every day you are grateful for, and reflect on the images after 30 days.