This is How You Prioritize Gratitude in Everything You Do

And why it’s the most important thing you’ll ever do.

Photo by Jasmin Ne on Unsplash

Gratitude is the simple act of being thankful.

It’s the practice of turning your attention to what’s working which naturally shifts it away from what’s not.

People overcomplicate gratitude making it into something you have to do instead of a way you strive to be.

For some, writing down what they are thankful for every day is effective. For others, making an effort to share positivity with others is a beneficial substitute for habitual complaining.

But, at the core, gratitude is never really about what you do but about how you feel while doing it. What is one thing that no matter what, no matter when, makes you feel even a tiny bit better?

What is the metaphorical spoonful of sugar that helps life’s medicine go down, your daily dose of sweetness that masks whatever bitterness you are facing?

Exercise can be a gratitude practice if getting your blood pumping elevates your mood and makes you feel ready to take on the day.

Reading can be a gratitude practice if momentarily transporting yourself away from your troubles and into a fictional world where anything seems possible helps you bring a sense of hope and encouragement back into your real life.

Taking a walk in nature can be a gratitude practice if doing so makes you feel more grounded and connected to the world around you.

Sipping on a mug of warm tea, digging into your favorite comfort food, playing with a child, sharing a moment of connection with someone you love, or dancing around the kitchen to a song that always puts you in a better mood are all ways to express gratitude.

They are all ways to say thank you to life; to remind yourself that no matter how hard things get, you are happy to be here.

There are no rules on what counts as gratitude as long as the feeling you are left with is an appreciation for life itself. Gratitude reminds us that hidden in the bad there is still good.

Gratitude helps us believe that despite the darkness, there is still light. And when we look for the…