5 Ways to Develop a Gratitude Mindset
Gratitude encompasses appreciation, affirmation, intent, and positivity, and digs into different perspectives. When you decide to express more gratitude and shift your mindset to believe in the greater good of things, your world starts to revolve around what truly matters. You tend to value more of what is right in front of you, rather than remaining stuck on what you can’t attain.
Through every obstacle and triumph, I have learned a valuable lesson that when life gets tough, things could be a lot worse and like everything else I will get through it. Learning and practicing how to transition my energy to seek the positive, while acknowledging the negative, has helped to guide my way through this healing journey.
Now, here are 5 ways for you to start evolving a gratitude mindset:
1. Evaluate your progress
When you work towards something, receiving confirmation and reassurance first from within and then with others who support you can be an important step in your journey. Tracking your progress and defining what moves you daily and keeps you going will set you up for success. Believing in what you have to give and acknowledging what you have already accomplished will inspire you to relish in who you have become.
2. Create a gratitude journal
Set enough time to start your day with a moment of silence; breathe and think about what you are grateful for each day, now write it down. It doesn’t have to be anything extravagant; it can be the aroma of your hazelnut coffee or even being able to read a chapter in your latest book. Documenting what you feel and do can open up an honest conversation with yourself on how you go about your day. Reflect, imagine, and take time to appreciate the simplicity in life.
3. Stay present in the moment
When you spend more of your moments focusing on what you are thankful for currently, there is less room for worrying about what you don’t have enough of. Circumstances can change, life can be tough, and our expectations can lead to disappointments, but what if we spent less on the unknown and more time on everything we’ve worked towards, earned, and have been given. Speaking things into existence is so powerful, but so is accepting what is already existing around you.
4. Display gratitude towards others
Engaging in meaningful conversations with the ones who support and love you is a great way to express your appreciation. Remain conscious and open to what you do to show others how they have impacted your life, and what they have taught you along the way. You can learn something new each day from the people around you, and you can create stronger relationships by reciprocating what each person gives. Small gestures and a simple “thank you” can bring so much validation and acceptance in.
5. Set intentions in your daily routine
When you take matters into your own hands and choose to go after something because you genuinely want to, the effect of intention becomes even greater. Get coffee before work because you want to and not simply because it is normal to do so. Read about that subject because it will better you and not because you have to. By making these simple changes, I’ve felt more powerful and in charge of my everyday movements and ability to maintain this type of attitude.