How to Intentionally Practice Gratitude for Life-Changing Results

This article will discuss the benefits of practicing gratitude and the ways to intentionally practice gratitude to transform your life for the better.

When we think of changing our lives for the better, we often forget to add the practice of gratitude to our checklist.

Gratitude is so powerful because it is a true perspective-changer. We have an innate desire to constantly long for more. Whether it is our careers, relationships, and most importantly, the possessions we love, our human nature is to want more. Gratitude helps us actively appreciate all that we have and recognize that anything additional is a bonus.

Does that mean stop striving for more? Absolutely freaking NOT. I am a big advocate for intentional goal setting and manifesting your dream life.

BUT it is equally important to grow a strong appreciation for where you are and all that you have to keep a positive mindset throughout your journey to your definition of success.

So, what exactly are the benefits of practicing gratitude?

You will improve your relationships with others. Whether romantic, familial, or platonic, expressing gratitude in our relationships is a great way to create a stronger bond. When your immediate support system feels appreciated through words or acts of kindness, you can guarantee that friendship or relationship will become better as a result.
You will experience better sleep quality. Yes – you read that correctly! In a study done by the National Library of Medicine, the practice of gratitude before bed leads to better sleep quality. In short, your brain is receiving positive, pleasant thoughts as you drift into a slumber, leading to a more sound sleep throughout the night.
You may find a decrease in stress levels and experience an overall happier mood. When we think about the things we feel grateful for – a place to sleep at night, the clothes that keep us warm, the food that nourishes our body – we cannot help but feel happy, right? Interrupt feeling overwhelmed with pleasant thoughts about the things you are grateful to decrease stress.

As someone who has experienced many highs and many lows in life, I can honestly say gratitude has been the most transformational way to overcome adversity. It helped to combat negative emotions and stay grounded when things didn’t always go in my favor.

My goal is to share the three ways I practice gratitude and experience life-changing results with the confidence that you will find success using them as well.

Please note that this page contains affiliate links. See my full disclosure here.

Here are THREE ways I practice gratitude:

Use a journal to write it out.

Writing down things that make you feel grateful brings them to the forefront of your brain. Several studies explain how writing things down helps you recall important information more easily. Make each item as detailed as possible.

If you need a few ideas to get started, try using a few of these gratitude journal prompts:

Write down one thing you’re looking forward to this week.
Write about a friend you are happy to have in your life and why.
Write about a time you were disappointed things didn’t work out because of the outcome in your life today.
Write down something in the room you’re sitting in that you are grateful for (a favorite throw blanket, the shoes on your feet, the view from a window, etc.)

You can always leverage the use of a pre-published gratitude journal to help get you started, too! Here are a few of my favorites:

Be sure to join my list for your FREE 30-day positive affirmation calendar and day planner template!

Schedule time to unplug.

Scheduling time to shut down mentally helps you to be more present. We live in such a busy society. Our social calendars are full of events. And even when we are spending time together, we are glued to our laptops or cell phones. Spend an hour in the morning or in the evening to be present. Unplugging shows a deep appreciation of your time and allows you to fully immerse yourself into the moment.

If you’re anything like me, you may struggle with shutting down.

Here are a few ways I actively unplug:

A twenty-minute yoga session
Game night with friends/family (link in family game night ideas)
Preparing a meal or baking
A walk or a light jog in the morning
Journaling or reading a book

Give back to others.

Giving back to others is my top tip to practice gratitude. You cannot think about your troubles while submerging yourself into helping others. Helping others in their time of need is a humble reminder of all the good you have in your life. This practice not only benefits your community or others around you but there are SO many benefits you will experience. You will be planting seeds of goodness in your life and gaining a sense of purpose, too.

If you’re looking for ways to give back to others, you MUST check out this helpful article.

Conclusion

When you think of ways to make a big life transformation, be sure to include actively practicing gratitude regularly. To effectively practice gratitude, use a journal to write down your thoughts, schedule time to unplug, and be sure to give back to others. How will YOU intentionally practice gratitude?

So, what exactly are the benefits of practicing gratitude?

Here are THREE ways I practice gratitude:

Use a journal to write it out.

Be sure to join my list for your FREE 30-day positive affirmation calendar and day planner template!

Schedule time to unplug.

Give back to others.

Conclusion

Join my list for your FREE 30-day positive affirmation calendar and day planner template!

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