Top 4 Habits to Create an Attitude of Gratitude

How do you currently look at life? Do you find yourself moaning about every little thing? Do you have a long list that goes on and on? Work stress, financial issues, friend problems, your health? What you may not realise is that if you wake up in the morning and you find something to complain about then that’s pretty much how your day is going to go. You may have already heard of the ‘law of attraction,’ which simply says that what you focus on, and where you put your energy, is what you are going to get. In other words, you create your reality. This is why it is more helpful to create a more grateful attitude to life.

What would happen if instead of waking up complaining, you opened your eyes and gave thanks for your life? Just that slight alteration in your attitude from moaning to gratitude can make you more aware of the happiness in your life and all the good that surrounds you. Gratitude will put your day to day occurrences into perspective. When you see both the good and the bad, you will be able to move past the constant complaining. So, how do we create a more grateful attitude to life? Let’s look at four easy ways to do that.

1. Start your own gratitude diary

You should set aside a few minutes at the end of your day to write down three or four things you are thankful for. It can be as simple as you woke up this morning or as elaborate as something that occurred during the day. Writing down what you are thankful for can help you to recognise how fortunate you actually are.

2. Take the time to create a grateful attitude

Begin to manage your day differently than you have been doing. Take a minute to stop and smell the roses. In other words, stop hurrying through your day. Stop yourself before you become overwhelmed and the negative feelings begin to take hold. Pause, breathe, look around and find something beautiful to appreciate. Nature is always great but if you are not near nature, maybe there’s a pet, a piece of artwork, etc. that catches your attention. Concentrate on it and breathe.

3. Turn a negative into a positive

This can seem difficult at first. However, if you can accomplish it you will benefit hugely. Before you let yourself get upset, stop yourself, and think it through with a positive mindset. You might have to meditate on it, you might have to get yourself into a relaxed state before you can approach the situation – whatever it takes. Take a minute to look for the good in the situation.

4. Create a grateful attitude in those around you

Share kindness with those around you. Say something nice to a stranger or a friend. Spread the love and lift up another human being. Give compliments to everyone and mean them. You will make their day and yours too.

These are just four great ways to create an attitude of gratitude. Try them! It’s really not that hard! You can also read our blog post on other ways to improve your mindset, and ultimately your life, here.

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Kelly Winter is a self-care guru from Stockport, Cheshire. You can contact her here at www.theimperfectcactus.com, on Instagram (@TheImperfectCactus), Facebook (@TheImperfectCactus) or on Twitter (@ImperfectCactus). ‘The Guide to Boosting Self-Esteem‘ is Kelly’s debut self-help guide which is available on Amazon.