How To Notice More Positive Things In Life Using Gratitude
Let’s slooooow dooooown and breaaaaaathe innnn…
Researched, written by 
Jenn Walker
Updated on January 22, 2023
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It can be hard to practice positivity in a world where we are exposed to constant negativity on our televisions, social media, surroundings, and life hurdles. It’s necessary to protect your mind from continual negativity by appreciating the positive things in life and the things that surround us.
Cultivating positive thoughts also affects those we regularly interact with, protecting them from the rising mental health conditions and helping them live better lives. Everyone, from the older adults residing in continuous care retirement communities or the younger generations setting themselves up for life, can use these tips to practice positivity and notice positive things in their lives.
1. Practice Gratitude Meditation
Grateful meditation will help you start your day with a positive mentality during tough times. Gratitude meditation helps you recognize all-around blessings even in the simple, positive things in life. You do not have to focus only on the significant things in your life; you can be grateful that your gas tank is full, grateful for your family, or even just grateful for your favorite snack food.
Gratitude meditation has a tone of benefits which include:
- Improved general well-being;
- Better sleep quality – a good night’s sleep helps you get reenergized for the next day;
- Decreased depression or anxiety episodes;
- Greater trust in people;
- Stronger relationships and better problem-solving skills.
If you’ve never done this before, go online and identify the best app to guide you on how to go about it.
2. Choose Your Circle Wisely
Examine your social circle. The people you interact with and the environment you live in can positively or negatively influence your thoughts. Friends and family should support one another. If you find yourself surrounded by negative people who make you feel bad about yourself, it may be time to find a new friend group. It can be difficult to cut someone out of your life, especially if you have a long relationship with them. However, if they are actively keeping you from growing as a person and focusing on positive things in life, you need to do what is best for you.
3. Practice Daily Self-Appreciation
Part of self-appreciation is not putting yourself down after failure. Even when you don’t feel like it on the bad days, acknowledge the good things about yourself, no matter how insignificant they may feel. It may look awkward doing this the first time, but it gets easier over time as you continue. Make it a habit to say at least five good things about yourself every day. Doing this gives you the strength and confidence to push on. Often, it’s easy to curse and blame others for our misfortunes, but celebrate yourself for the far you’ve come and approach the next phase of life with positivity.
4. Do Gratitude Journaling
Journaling is more of a self-reflective moment, and there’s no prescribed way to do it as long as you’re consistent. Use that moment to recount the positive things in your life at the end of each day. You can write them down on your phone, sticky notes, or daily planner.
Most people do this right before bedtime, which helps them sleep better. This time around, you won’t do it like an ordinary diary that includes all the day’s events, whether positive or negative. Simple bullet points work. However, if you need to get detailed, you can still do it.
5. Have a Gratitude Buddy
Expressing your gratitude to someone may feel weird at first, but it helps you keep up the consistency. Your gratitude buddy can be your child, spouse, or friend. Sharing these moments will also help uplift your spirit when they share what they’re grateful for.
Activities hit differently when someone close to you does them. You don’t necessarily have to meet up to do it if your buddy is miles away. Mobile phones and other online face app services have made communication effortless, so you can always take advantage of that. Decide on how frequently you can be doing this weekly.
6. Have a Gratitude Jar
There are tough seasons in your life that will lead your mind to shift to negative thoughts only. In such times, a visual reminder filled with little notes of the things to be grateful for may help you through such times. On those dull days, you can pull out the notes to remind yourself that you can pull through the current challenging incidents in your life.
A gratitude jar works almost like a gratitude journal, only that with this, you get to write down a simple note anytime and put it in the jar. The more this jar fills up, the more it sends a visual representation of all the positive things in life you have.
7. Get Involved in Acts of Kindness
You don’t have to be rich to spread positivity to the world! A simple thank you or visit to someone who has influenced your life positively makes them feel special and appreciated, no matter how small the deed may have been. Additionally, pass the same positivity to people who need it more. You can plan to:
- visit a retirement or children’s home;
- mentor a child;
- donate items that you don’t use
- or get involved in a fundraising event.
Sparing your time to spread love and hope to the community around you in whichever way you can help you become more gracious and compassionate. You will realize that many people need more of that out there. You can be a part of a volunteer program in which you can bring together your resources towards this great cause.
8. Take One Step at A Time
In this fast lane life, it’s necessary to be kind to yourself and slow down when you need to. Have realistic expectations in everything you do, even as you work hard and take a break when needed.
Learn to engage more in the things you love to refresh your spirit and build more positive thoughts within you. Do these things; travel, prepare your favorite meal, listen to your favorite music, go to the spa, go to your favorite restaurant, watch your favorite comedy show, etc. Whenever you feel overwhelmed, take a break from everything to rejuvenate yourself.
You can’t undo pessimism overnight, but you can build more optimism in your life with a consistent gratitude practice. It all starts with you, and if we all take it upon ourselves to do this, others will also begin to notice, and together we can raise a generation of more kind and thoughtful people.
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Freelance writer, blogger, dog-enthusiast, and avid beachgoer operating out of Southern New Jersey.
This article was proofread by Grammarly