An emotion I’m overcome with every day is gratitude. Through growth and transitions, I’ve been reminded of how important it is to communicate those feelings with others and understand what those feelings mean to you.
When you choose to express gratitude, you’re not only blessing someone with compliments, but you’re also increasing your own happiness in parallel. It doesn’t take a grand gesture to express your gratitude for someone or something. Sometimes all it takes is a simple “thank you,” a small act of kindness, or a thoughtful gift.
I’ve found that many people struggle with expressing gratitude. For this reason, I wanted to share with you four ways you can begin practicing your expression of gratitude today.
Share grateful feelings
One of the best things you can do when you feel an immense amount of gratitude toward someone is to tell them. When you share your feelings of gratitude with them, you can often see their spirit being uplifted through the light in their eyes. That person will be thankful for your kindness, and you can see through their expressions just how much you have impacted their life.
Be like Winnie the Pooh
Winnie the Pooh and Christopher Robin give us numerous lessons on how to openly express gratitude for the world around us. Whether you choose to make a list of the things you are grateful for or state them out loud, I encourage you to express gratitude for both people and things that exist in your life. Observe your surroundings and focus on the things you are most grateful for. This could include your favorite book or movie, the comfiest corner of your home, or your daily cup of coffee—anything really!
If you need inspiration, take a look around your home or environment and name what you see. Then, simply appreciate it in all its intricacy!
Manifest “Words of Affirmation”
"Words of affirmation" is one of the 5 love languages created by Dr. Gary Chapman. It means to validate or “affirm” the love of the person you are speaking to through words—verbal or written.
Whether you are having a conversation with someone, or you choose to express gratitude through journaling, poems, or another form of writing, be sure to include the “why” behind your compliment. Sharing the “why” behind your love and appreciation will help validate the sincerity of your words and strengthen your relationship.
Check in with someone
It’s easy to become distant in the chaos of life, so my challenge to you is to check in with someone. Sending a simple “I’m grateful for you, I hope you’re doing well” message can completely change the narrative of someone’s life. Regardless of how long it’s been since you’ve last seen them, be the light in someone’s life today by checking in with them and taking time out of your day to listen.
Studies have shown that happiness is linked to gratitude, meaning those who express their feelings of gratitude tend to have an increased level of overall happiness. As you can see, there are numerous ways to show how grateful you are. One of the things I strive to do is take note of my feelings of gratitude and the form of expression I practice. By implementing these feelings and practices into my daily lifestyle, I can help create a habit of expressing positive feelings. This helps me to let go of all the negative energy in my life by beginning everyday anew with positivity and gratuity. How do you express gratitude in your life?