How to Be More Grateful for the Good Things in Your Life

“The more grateful I am, the more beauty I see.” —Mary Davis

Gratitude is something we all speak of in positive ways. As a matter of fact, I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone speak negatively of gratitude.

All the research backs up our fondness for it. Studies show that people who are grateful experience increased levels of happiness and satisfaction, reduced stress, improved physical health, deeper relationships, and even better sleep. Gratitude positively impacts our mood, health, relationships, and overall quality of life. It can change our entire attitude and worldview.

And yet, despite ALL these proven benefits, practicing gratitude can still be difficult. For some, it’s a struggle at all times. For everyone else, it’s a struggle some of the time.

Gratitude is simply the act of being thankful—for someone or something in your life. Such a powerfully life-giving practice that isn’t difficult, entirely free, and can be practiced anywhere at anytime in our lives is a lesson worth learning.

So, how can we foster more gratitude in our lives?

10 ways to become more grateful for the good things in life:

1. View gratitude as a discipline

When life is going great, gratitude is easy to find—because it is easy to see gratitude as a response to circumstances. But when that is our view, gratitude is the hardest to find when we need it the most—during those times when it feels like everything is falling apart.

The first way to become more grateful for the good things in our life is to see it as a discipline—something to practice each day, regardless of what life brings.

Just like any worthwhile habit, gratitude will only happen every day if we decide to make it happen. Every day, regardless of circumstances, we should decide to take some time focusing on the good around us.

2. Embrace the idea that “enough” is a blessing

Gratitude often begins with recognizing and appreciating that we have enough.

It is easy to lose sight of “enough” in a culture focused on more—more possessions, more success, more influence. Think of it this way, if every message you hear every day is that your life will be better if you have more, our baseline understanding of “enough” will always shift in that direction. We’ll never have enough money, enough house, enough stuff. More becomes the goal—and that is a finish line that can never be reached.

But there is a wonderful freedom to be found in the realization that we already have enough. Enough is the true blessing—not more. And gratitude begins there.

3. Give yourself permission to want less

Wanting less is not a step down in life, nor is it a step backward. Just the opposite, it is the gateway to ambition. This is because wanting less of the wrong things frees us to pursue more of the right things.

By letting go of the constant desire for things we don’t have, we are freed to appreciate more the things we already do have. When we allow ourselves to be content, we begin to see the true blessings in our lives we have had all along. After all, if you are not thankful today, what makes you think you’d be thankful if you had more?

4. Look back to see how far you’ve come

Sometimes, the beginning of gratitude is to pause and reflect on where we started to truly appreciate where we are. Think about the moments in your past when you hoped for the things you have now—maybe that’s a stable home, a loving family, meaningful work, health, or simply more experience.

Remembering our progress by looking back at how far we’ve come—especially through challenges—helps us see life with a renewed sense of appreciation.

5. Keep positive reminders available

Negativity bias is our mind’s natural tendency to focus on negative experiences. This bias can make gratitude difficult when these negative experiences grow.

But we can counter this bias and foster gratitude along the way by intentionally surrounding ourselves with positive reminders of the good in our lives. This could include meaningful photos of the people we love, uplifting quotes, inspiring art, expressions of appreciation, or spiritual symbols. By intentionally keeping these reminders accessible, we balance out our mind’s focus on negative thoughts and bring more gratitude to our everyday perspective.

I learned this from a friend of mine back in college who kept a folder of positive cards and notes he’s received over the years in his desk drawer. Whenever he felt discouraged, he would take a moment to look through them, remind himself of the important work he was involved in and the impact it had on people’s lives.

6. Notice the small things

There is an infinite amount of gratitude to be found in the smallest details of life: a quiet morning, a warm meal, the smile of a loved one. Or even things as amazing as running water, electricity, or refrigeration. It is a shame that oftentimes the greatest blessings in life are the easiest to overlook.

Take some time to notice and celebrate the small things once again.

7. Thank someone each day

Intentionally expressing thanks is a helpful way to bring more gratitude into our lives daily. It doesn’t have to be a grand gesture—even small moments of appreciation count, and every time you do it, you are reminded to focus on the good that someone or something brought into your life.

So thank a friend, a family member, a coworker, your server, or a stranger who held the door open for you. In a very real way, this has been the most helpful step for me to cultivate a grateful life. I practice it every day in prayer thanking God for something. If you have a similar faith practice, you know the effect that giving thanks to someone each day can have on your life.

If you do implement this step, I heard great advice one time. When you say thank you, always add the word “for” afterwards. As in “Thank you for <fill in the blank>.” The expression of gratitude will mean more to the receiver when you specifically state the reason, and it will bring better results into your life as well.

8. Put away the distractions

Our lives today are filled with constant distraction—our phones, television, social media, current events, and endless to-do lists (just to name a few). These distractions keep us from slowing down long enough to focus on the good that’s already present in our lives. In fact, the more our attention is pulled in multiple directions, the harder it becomes to fully recognize and appreciate the blessings around us. So let’s all put them away a little bit more often.

9. Reflect on the benefit of gratitude

If you quickly skipped over the first few paragraphs of this article, go back and read them again. Take time to process each of the benefits that gratitude brings into our lives. The impact of gratitude is literally life-changing. And not just for you, but for the people closest to you as well.

When we understand the full scope of how gratitude benefits us and those we love, we’re more motivated to cultivate it. The more we reflect on gratitude’s potential to enrich our lives, the more committed we become to seeking it daily.

10. Revisit moments of past gratitude

Sometimes, a powerful way to find gratitude when you need it most is to revisit past moments when we were deeply thankful. This could be a journal entry, a photograph, or simply a memory of a time you felt profoundly blessed. These moments remind us of the goodness that has been part of our journey, encouraging us to live gratefully in the present.

Gratitude is a powerful practice that can transform the way we experience life. It shifts our perspective from scarcity to abundance, from pessimism to optimism, and from desire to appreciation. And that’s something we can all be thankful for!