Practice Gratitude: 44 Ideas That Are More Powerful Than You Think

Documentary maker and co-founder of Food Matters, Laurentine ten Bosch, supplies a solid list of simple ways to genuinely practice gratitude starting now....

Gratitude is our emotion that relates to feeling and expressing thankfulness and appreciation. Research shows that expressing gratitude regularly improves mental, physical and relational well-being.

By taking the time to be grateful—for even the small things—you will begin to experience a positive attitude that actually creates a ripple effect into your physical life. Research shows that people who regularly practice gratitude have lower blood pressure, exercise more often, and even have fewer aches and pains.

The best part? With the practice of gratitude comes increased serotonin levels—the happiness hormone—which leads to positive relationships with those around you, and yourself, which in turn results in a decrease in thoughts of depression. From that state, it gets even easier to continue to be grateful! And don’t worry, these aren’t just temporary results, some of these effects tend to be long-lasting.

44 Ways To Practice Gratitude In Your Everyday Life

Here are some of our favorite ways to practice gratitude:

Ask your waitress how her day is going
Be a mentor or teach someone
Be an active listener
Call your friends or family
Change I have to to I get to
Do a form of movement you love and thank your incredible body
Do something unexpected for someone
Donate some of your possessions to a charity
Feed your body nourishing foods
Get to know your neighbors
Give a shoutout on social media to a company you love
Give genuine compliments to those around you
Host a gratitude dinner party (Thanksgiving isn't the only day to be grateful over a good meal)
Hug more
Keep a gratitude jar filled with notes on life’s blessings
Keep a gratitude journal
Laugh more
Leave encouraging words for someone
Make a vision board of all the things you are grateful for in your life
Make eye contact
Make handmade gifts
Pay it forward: Buy someone a coffee
Place positive post-it notes and quotes around your house
Practice positive affirmations
Read a book and share it with someone
Say thanks before each meal
Share hand-picked flowers
Share positive reviews
Shop at a local farmers market and give thanks to your farmers
Smile
Stop, smell and absorb nature. Give thanks for the air in your lungs and admire the beauty around you
Take three deep breaths
Take time to do something you love each day
Take time to fill your cup
Tell your partner what you love about them every day
Thank people for their service
Think of three things you’re grateful for before you go to sleep
Try a guided gratitude meditation
Turn complaints into an opportunity for growth
Visit your family
Volunteer for a cause you believe in
Walk a little lighter—reduce your plastic consumption
Watch more sunrises and sunsets, recognize each day as a gift
Write a handwritten thank-you note

How do you practice gratitude? Share your daily tips in the comments section below!

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