How to be grateful in hard times

How to be grateful in hard times is not only possible but simple! It starts with 1 small step- make a promise to yourself to start a gratitude practice. This can look different for everyone, but here is where to start:

How to be grateful in hard times:

1. Have a gratitude journal

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   • Use a notebook or notes in your phone- write down something that you are grateful for that happened within the last 24 hours.
   • The more  specific the better. Maybe you want to write “I am thankful for my husband”- instead, write- I am thankful that my husband made coffee for me this morning.
   • Try to do it at the same time every day, that way you remember!
   • Even when times are tough and the worst is happening, there is something to be grateful for. It could be as simple as I am thankful for my warm and fuzzy blanket.
   • Doing this practice of gratitude everyday, you will find that there are more things to be grateful for.

     •  “The more Thankful I became, the more my bounty increased. That’s because- for sure-what you focus on expands. When you focus on the goodness in life, you create more of it.” ~Oprah Winfrey

2. Being more present in every day life

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   • Meditate- I use an app called Calm and meditate for 10 minutes a day. There are many different apps available, as well as you tube videos.
   • Spend time without electronics
   • Walk in nature and just notice details
   • Focus on your breath

3. Do something for someone else every day

   • This does not have to be a grand gesture
   • Open the door for someone
   • Smile
   • Pray for someone
   • Pay for someone’s coffee
   • Pick up trash in your neighborhood while on a walk (for the nurse in me please were gloves to protect yourself because ewww)
   • Be a courteous driver, let someone in your lane- give someone the benefit of the doubt

4. Express gratitude.

   • Just simply tell someone when you are thankful. Your friend calls to check in on you- say thank you for checking on me. Your kids put away the dishes (even if you had to ask them a hundred times) tell them thank you. 
   • Write a letter to someone who has done something kind for you

5. Watch TED talks about Gratitude

   In this Ted talk Hailey talks about her year long daily gratitude project. It brought tears to my eyes to watch her talk about how much being grateful changed her life

   • There are so many more Ted talks on gratitude check them out!

6. Listen to podcasts on Gratitude

   • Just search gratitude in your podcast app search bar, you will find many podcasts that focus on gratitude

Quotes about gratitude:

• The real gift of gratitude is that the more grateful you are, the more present you become. ~ Robert Holden
• I am thankful for my struggle because through it I have found my strength. ~grattitudehabit.com
• I’ve changed. Irrevocably. Permanently. My soul is richer and my heart is fuller in brokenness then it ever was without. I’ve learned true despair, and it’s made me learn to appreciate true joy. ~scribblesandcrumbs
• Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more… It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow. ~Melody Beattie

How to be grateful in hard times comes down to taking the time to pause, and be aware of what is going on around us every day. It’s easy to want to bring gratitude into your life, but it’s a whole other thing to do it.  I hope that my simple tips on ways to bring gratitude into your everyday life have been helpful. 

Thank you for stopping by. I am grateful for YOU for taking the time to check out my blog.

Faith ♥