The 2023 has already exceeded my expectations not that I had huge ones to begin with. The things I have experienced this year, the people I’ve met , the spaces I have been in and my tribe whose been my ultimate support I am just super grateful. I don’t know about you but I can just keep going, bouncing from one thing to the next without truly stopping to really appreciate the season I am and my achievements. I have to make a conscious effort to stop and thank God for his many blessings. We can be so focus on the end goal that we forget to be present in the moment and enjoy the process however difficult or easy that may be. Here are some of the ways we can try to practise gratitude.
Write down in your journal one thing every day you are grateful for. If you don’t have a journal you can write your list in notes on your phone. Somewhere that is convenient and private to you.
Make a conscious effort to see the positives in your life. I don’t know about you but I can naturally just focus on the things that are not going good for me currently and don’t even acknowledge the positives. These type of thoughts are called Automatic Negative Thoughts which can cause anxiety and depression if they’re not nipped in the bud. Sometimes when I’m talking to friends and family about what’s happening in my life and they’re like “ omg that’s so amazing I’m so happy for you”. It literally makes me stop and think yeah it is amazing. Wild I know but we all do it some more than others that’s why its so important to also see the positives as well as the negatives because Satan you are a liar.
Have a support system or tribe that pours nothing but love and support into you. Your support system doesn’t have to look like everybody else’s. They don’t have to be related to you. They can just have to love you and want to see you win.
Have friendships with individuals who practise gratitude. Likeminded friendships encourages you to be consistent. You can also cheer each other on in your gratitude journey. I have friends that ask me all the time what am I grateful for today. Sometimes when I’m struggling to identify something they’re able to identify things I should be grateful for. Sometimes we have blinkers that inhibits us from seeing the good but “ when Jesus says yes nobody can’t say no”.
Practicing gratitude is a journey. Its a muscle that needs to be strengthen over time. Gratitude helps us value the people and things that are important to us. It also helps us to become more aware of our surroundings and experiences in our lives. This can have a positive effect on our mental health and general well being. I have seen and experienced myself many benefits of practising gratitude. I would love hear from you. What have your experience been like practising gratitude and what are you grateful for today?.
Loved this, a good reminder. I'm grateful for health/strength and the chance to pursue long-held dreams. TBH, even the ability to still dream, to hope - that's worth a ton of gratitude too.