Top 10 Ways To Challenge Yourself To Develop The Habit of Gratitude

Gratitude has numerous benefits to mental, physical, and social health as well as one’s overall quality of life. There are many ways that you can develop the habit of gratitude. Today we’ll look at ten challenges that you can pose to yourself to make your gratitude a habit instead of just an idea. Express Gratitude Instead Of Apologizing. It’s a natural habit for many of us to apologize when we make mistakes or inconvenience other people. This is bound to happen in life as no one is perfect. However, you do have another option instead of apologizing that will smooth over the situation and actually have a bigger positive impact. Instead of apologizing for running late, say “Thank you for waiting on me.” Keep A Daily Gratitude Journal. Daily journaling is great for mental health as is but it’s even better if you can include gratitude as part of this daily habit. In your gratitude journal, write down the best part of your day, one thing you’re grateful for that day, and what you’re most looking forward to the following day. Check In With Your Physical Senses. We don’t pay nearly enough attention to the world around us that we should. This often causes us to get lost in the flow of life and forget about the little things that we could be grateful for. You can practice a mindfulness routine where you check in with each of your physical senses to get better connected to your surroundings. This will give you a new appreciation for all the wonderful stimuli that life has to offer. For example, take time to notice fragrances while preparing your food, listen to the sound of the boiling water, etc. Routinely Review Your Accomplishments. Keep a running list of your accomplishments and review them at least once a week. It may not seem like you’ve accomplished a lot until you look at the full list. Chances are you’ve accomplished way more than you give yourself credit for. Share Your Gratitude With Others Each Day. Sharing gratitude with others solidifies it in your own mind. It also allows the opportunity to exchange examples with each other and be reminded of the good things in your life that you may not have initially considered. Make A List Of The Things You Admire About Yourself. Make a list of the skills, personality traits, and other characteristics that you admire about yourself. Add to this list whenever you think of something. Then, review it at least once a week to continuously maintain a positive relationship with yourself. Limit Time Spent Thinking About The Negatives. Consider whether this issue will mean anything by tomorrow, in a few weeks, etc. Don’t spend any unnecessary energy on negativity. When something happens, stash it away for later and deal with it during your scheduled worry time. Give Back To The Community On A Routine Basis. Giving back to your local community serves as a great reminder of the positive things you have in your life. Additionally, giving back to the community makes you feel good about yourself. Say “Thank You” To Yourself At Least Once A Day. Everyone benefits from positive reinforcement, especially that which you give to yourself. Express gratitude to yourself for maintaining a routine, accomplishing goals, stepping out of your comfort zone, facing adversity, and everything else you do and achieve! Say thank you to yourself out loud for even greater impact. You can also write a letter of gratitude to yourself and review it when you need inspiration and self-love.