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Gratitude! Yes, there are always ways to be grateful – for something. Even in what can feel like the darkest of days. There’s usually something – even when it’s something small – that we can be grateful for. I started thinking about this topic more when the Balance meditation app presented to me a 15-minute gratitude meditation. So, that got me thinking: what are 5 ways to practice gratitude? Let’s take a look.
1. Meditate
That could be the official gratitude session or really anything close to it available in the app. Just be intentional about thinking about and recognizing all the good things. I’ve been using the Balance app here, and I’ve also been using this app’s other programs, including one to get into the flow state at work. (That one runs up to 8 hours, by the way.)
2. Journal
Prompted journaling is a great way to remember and document for yourself the great things that have happened today. You can do that on paper and with a pen:
If you prefer to use an app, here’s one app option to practice gratefulness that way:
3. Scheduled time
I can actually tell Siri to “set a daily alarm for 9:30 so that I can reflect on being grateful.”
Of course, you still have to take the time to sit back, relax, and consider what’s going well and what’s great in your life. But it’s a great reminder.
Read next: How to set an iPhone alarm to keep your day organized
4. Kindness cards
These cards have inspirational sayings and can be given to the people who matter in your life. Make sure to add a personalized note about the topic on the card. They can also help you to reflect on specific things and are great thought starters.
5. Gratitude jar
Here’s how a gratitude jar works:
- Daily draw: Draw a card each day to reflect on a specific aspect of gratitude.
- Selective use: Choose cards that resonate with current feelings or experiences.
- Supplementary tool: The pre-printed cards can be used alongside personal gratitude entries, providing a mix of guided and self-generated gratitude practice.
To make this even simpler, you could also have a regular jar, write notes of gratitude on small note cards, and put them into the jar. Then, at times—perhaps when you need a pick-me-up —pull out the cards to remind yourself of what you’ve been grateful for.
At the end of the day, practicing gratitude for what we have can make us feel better, help us be better spouses, parents, and co-workers, and even help us perform at a high level at work.
Our mood and mindset determine whether we can bring the best of ourselves to all those aspects of our lives.