Expressing gratitude is one of the most powerful mood-changers you can incorporate into your life. It’s also one of the most important choices you will ever make. Practicing gratitude can take you from a mental state of negativity, lack, and fear to a state of abundance and joy.
We live in a world where we are constantly subjected to fear from the media to our social circles. Bringing a little gratitude into our lives can make us remember that we are living right now and we have so much to be thankful for.
Here are 13 simple ways you can express gratitude daily.
1. Tell Someone You Appreciate Them
Starting with something very simple, this is basic but incredibly impactful because it isn’t often done. It can change your and someone else’s day. We love to be appreciated, and you can start simple with a causal “I appreciate you,” or you can go more personal and express why you appreciate someone. The response you get can be varied, but it always initiates a strong response, even if not expressed.
By letting someone know you appreciate them, they can feel heard, valued, and important. Their self-esteem will boost and so will yours.
I appreciate my sister who is always here for me to listen to my rambles.
2. Create a Social Media Post
I know not everyone is on social media so you can just journal what you are grateful for. A popular tool would be starting an abundance journal. But something I love to do is go through my camera roll, find a picture that brings my joy, and express my gratitude for what happened and what brings me joy.
This is often so rewarding that I do this in bulk. By posting it on social media as well, you can spread gratitude and abundance out into the world and inspire someone else to do it.
I am grateful we have platforms that we can practice this on.
3. Mental Listing
This one is great if you are in a negative headspace. Just sit down with a drink near a window and list all the things you are grateful for. It can be hard at first, but you can start small with foods and colors you like and then expand into things. After about ten things, it will begin to flow more easily, and you’ll be able to focus on the things that you are grateful for and lucky enough to experience.
I am grateful for crunchy lettuce, air travel, fairy lights, how cute rabbits are, mash potatoes, how elegant dancing is, TVs, locks, the wind and sunshine, sand, shells, the invention of boats, and ice tea. I can go on and on.
4. Play the “Winnie the Pooh” Game
Inspired by the movie by Christopher Robin, the Winnie the Pooh game is similar to listing but you name things you see and express gratitude for the fact that they exist. This can include lamps, trees, houses, and sandwiches—anything, really!
This is really good when you are struggling to think of anything. Just have a look around and see what you are grateful for. If you need inspiration, you can watch the movie. But the gist is, name what you see and appreciate it in all its intricacy.
I can see some flowers, and I am grateful for all their colors and hues.
5. Do Something Small for Someone
This one is a wonderful way to express gratitude. Once you have identified someone you are grateful for in your life, do something small for them. Send them a message or help them with their shopping.
This is such a powerful thing because the small things are the things that create the most impact, and it doesn’t cost you all your energy. Doing a small kind thing for the people in your life and yourself can really help create emotional bonds and alleviate stress and loneliness. Doing something small for others can benefit everyone.
I am grateful to my colleague so I will help them out if I can.
6. Find a New Unique Way to Compliment Someone
This is the best thing ever. Complimenting someone is a wonderful way to express appreciation and gratitude but mix it up and make it unique. Find a specific thing you are grateful to them for, like the way they smile or their kind heart.
Did you know that words of affirmation are also a love language? We all communicate in different love languages and a large portion of people value words of affirmations or compliments. If you find new and wonderful ways to compliment someone, they will feel heard and valued but don’t forget to compliment yourself. You are beautiful and worthy of compliments.
I am grateful for my mother’s compassion—it is seemingly limitless.
7. Throw a Simple Appreciation Party
A simple but great way to express appreciation for someone is to throw them a small party. Get them a card, grab some flowers and a small gift. Often small cheap gifts with powerful intention are much more meaningful than expensive gifts.
Invite them out for a drink and have a mini party for them, and express your gratitude that they are in your life. I do this often, and it’s a beautiful thing. It is also a very powerful tool to help someone you know who is struggling.
At a core level, all human beings crave appreciation and acceptance, but we rarely receive them. It is time to start celebrating the people in our lives and showing them that they are valued. It is also reciprocated—if you aren’t feeling appreciated, control what you can control. You can’t make other people appreciate you, but you can appreciate them and yourself, but more on that later.
I appreciate you and this blog post is your appreciation party.
8. Make Plans
Make plans with someone to do something they really love to do. A beautiful way to express gratitude is to invite someone to do something they love.
Watch their eyes light up as they get to share their passion with you. You will be grateful you did this. This is a really important one because it also builds connections with people. By showing you understand and value someone, you build stronger bonds with people. You may also discover that you find something new that you love to do! Think of all the new adventures you can have by getting out of your comfort zone and trying something new with someone you know!
I am grateful that I have the ability to make plans with people I value.
9. Buy Yourself Flowers
You should always be grateful to yourself. Buy yourself something and remind yourself that you’re important, you matter, and you are worthy of being appreciated. Don’t forget to be grateful for yourself—you are alive and you are the only you. That is important.
One of the most frustrating things about being a human is feeling unappreciated. If you are reading this, you are probably feeling unappreciated, always giving and not hearing a word of thanks for your efforts. As I said, you are important and you do matter. Appreciate yourself and you will feel more fulfilled and energized in your life.
Buy yourself the flowers you want someone else to buy you. Take control and thrive in a grateful headspace that you have yourself and you love yourself.
I am grateful for you. Buy yourself a gift.
10. Check In
Check in with someone you know is having a hard time, and let them know you are there for them because you are grateful for them. It is often overlooked, but it can be so powerful to check in with someone even if you haven’t spoken to them in a long time.
Your past is something you are grateful for, so check in and say hello. You can spread a little bit of gratitude out into the world!
I am grateful you’re alive and reading this. I hope you are well and this is me, checking in with you to ask if you are alright. I hope you are.
11. Do Something Fun
Express your gratitude for being alive by doing something fun! Dance, sing, create, build a spreadsheet! Whatever floats your boat. Just remember that you need to have more fun in your life and you will be able to feel gratitude when you are having fun.
I know it seems like an odd one, but positive energy encourages more positive energy. When you do something fun and are thankful that you’re alive to appreciate it, that energy can infect other people. Also, life is too short to just work and serve. You need to have fun—whatever fun looks like to you! Go forth, unashamed, and do your thing!
I am grateful I have a body that allows me to go and have fun!
12. Don’t Snap
This is a strange one I admit, but instead of snapping at someone whose frustrating you, focus on what you are grateful to them for. This is a small but effective way to express gratitude and change the dialogue of what is happening in your day. Focus on gratitude and finding a reason to be grateful. It changes nothing about the situation except your attitude towards it, which in turn, can change the interaction moving forward.
By taking on negative energy and turning it into positive energy with gratitude and appreciation and expressing it, you can change someone’s world. Responses can come in many forms, but asking if someone is okay and letting them have the space to vent can be very powerful for both of you.
I am grateful for all the people who have helped me, even if they were frustrating to work with.
13. Give Someone Recognition
Much like appreciating someone, recognizing someone for their achievements is a wonderful way to practice gratitude. It also changes their internal narrative as well from underappreciated and down to appreciate and thriving. The power of gratitude can apply not only to yourself but also to every social interaction you have. I am grateful for all the times someone has gone to the effort to highlight my achievements.
You don’t have to do all these every day, I love to pick and choose which ones will be the most fun each day! Once you start, you will find it difficult to stop as the joy it brings is so fulfilling. Just remember to be grateful for yourself and as much as you express your gratitude outward into the world. You need to express gratitude for yourself. If you do that, you will be an endless source of beauty, kindness, and light.
I am grateful you took the time to read this, and I hope you do something today that brings you and the world a little joy.
Final Thoughts
Gratitude can transform not only your world but also the world around you. What happens to you is a matter of perspective, and gratitude is the most effective way to take your perspective from why me to try me.
By expressing appreciation, you can change someone’s whole day and sometimes even their life with a little bit of kindness. If you want to leave a happy and fulfilled life, incorporating gratitude into your life will help cultivate a happy mindset. Happy mindset and attitude equal happy life!
More About Gratitude
- 40 Simple Ways To Practice Gratitude
- 6 Ways To Implement More Gratitude In Your Life
- Why You Should Say “Thank You” Instead Of “Sorry” When You Do Something Wrong
Featured photo credit: Nathan Dumlao via unsplash.com
