6 Ways to Incorporate Gratitude into Your Everyday Life

In this crazy world, it is easy to get caught up in unwelcome news, stress from work or school, and general ugliness. Thankfully, there are ways to combat the less-than-ideal things we see and experience every day. Cultivating gratitude is one of the most effective ways to put a smile on your face and keep you happy. It can be challenging at first to incorporate gratitude into your everyday life, but once you begin to see the benefits of doing so, it gets much easier. Gratitude can have many positive effects on people’s lives. It can help you focus on what is good in your life instead of what is bad; reduce stress and anxiety; improve relationships with others; increase happiness; decrease feelings of envy or jealousy; strengthen resilience during challenging times, and even bring about greater compassion for others around you.   

Learn to be present

As humans, we often focus on what we do not have, what we wish we had, and what we do not like about our circumstances. Try to put the present moment first. Focus on what you have in your life and acknowledge it. For example, instead of focusing on the extensive line at Starbucks, try to recognize the smell of freshly brewed coffee, the sound of the espresso machine whirring, and the warm lighting inside. By shifting your focus, you can shift your mood. This can also help you be more grateful for the things you have—you do not have to wait for something to happen, like your next birthday, to be grateful.   

Commend the things you love

Whether it is a family member, a friend, a relationship, or even a pet, finding something to appreciate and commend in those around you will put a smile on your face. You can do this verbally or in a written journal, or even both! When you commend something specific about someone, it shows them that you care in a way that goes beyond a simple thank-you.   

Help others

One of the best ways to put a smile on your face is to do something for others. Whether it is volunteering your time at a local organization, or helping a friend that needs aid, doing things to help others can be rewarding. Not only will you be bringing happiness to others, but you will also be improving your sense of happiness.   

Exercise   

Exercising regularly has many benefits, including reducing stress and anxiety while helping you sleep better and improving your mood. Even short spurts of exercise can have a significant impact on your mental health. So, by putting on your sneakers and hitting the pavement, you can help to put a smile on your face and improve your overall well-being.   

Meditate   

 We all have things that we think about in our daily lives that do not necessarily contribute to our overall happiness. Meditating allows you to clear your mind of all those thoughts, allowing you to start afresh. It can be helpful to think about a specific gratitude each time that you meditate, or you can just think about what you are most grateful for in life.  

Write in a gratitude journal   

Creating a gratitude journal is a fantastic way to put a smile on your face every day. A gratitude journal is like a diary, but instead of writing about your day, you write about all the things you are grateful for. It can be helpful to go out of your way to write in this journal—you do not have to wait until bedtime to write in it. Waiting until the end of the day is better because it gives you a fresh perspective on your day.   

Conclusion   

 When you practice gratitude in your everyday life, you will notice that you experience more happiness. You will also feel less stressed and worried, which will help you to better cope with the challenges you face each day. Cultivating gratitude can help you to put a smile on your face, especially during challenging times. When it comes to putting a smile on your face, it is important to remember that you do not have to do something grand. It is often the simple things in life that can help us to feel the happiest. So, be sure to incorporate these six ways to cultivate gratitude into your everyday life and you will see benefits in both the short and long term.