How To Express Gratitude Every Day

When was the last time you paused to reflect on your relationships and express gratitude for the things in your life? 

Taking time to do this is considered a form of mindfulness and, if done regularly, it can have a range of positive benefits on your life!

If you’ve been wondering how to express gratitude more often — whether it’s doing something nice for someone or reflecting on the positives in your own life, here are some simple ways you can begin.

How to express gratitude daily

Understanding how to express gratitude in small ways can help make big positive changes to your overall outlook — and even that of others. 

Here are 10 top tips on how to express gratitude in simple, everyday ways:

How to express personal gratitude

When you learn how to focus on the positives in your life and ban negative self-talk you will be surprised at how great you’ll feel!

Avoid negative talk

It’s amazing how quickly one negative comment or thought can turn into a negative thinking pattern and mindset. 

One way you can avoid negative self-talk is to recognise what might trigger these thoughts. For example, do you sometimes look at yourself in the mirror and become critical? Next time you notice yourself doing this, stop and re-direct your attention to something you love about yourself! 

It might be hard at first, but just like anything, the more you practise positive self-talk, the easier it will become. 

Focus on what you have

When you find yourself focusing on the challenges in your life, or how far you have to go to reach a goal, take a moment to change your focus.
Think about how far you have come, what you are capable of and what you have in your life right now.

Keep a gratitude journal

There are so many benefits of writing a daily journal. Expressing gratitude in this way is a great mindfulness activity — and doesn’t have to take more than five minutes.

Simply jot down a few things each day that you are grateful for. It could be that you squeezed in a good workout, or had a pleasant experience at work — whatever it is, by documenting it you are training your mind to see the good in every day. 

Start your day with three happy thoughts

Every morning, think of three things that you are thankful for and remind yourself about what you have in your life right now.

How to express gratitude towards others

Simple gestures and kind words can totally transform another person’s day — here are some ideas of how you can implement acts of kindness towards others each day.

Smile

Smiling is one of the easiest things you can do to express gratitude to others. 

Whether it’s towards a loved one or someone you walk past on the street — making eye contact and smiling at someone shows that you are connected and engaged in the present moment.

Do something nice for a stranger

Think about a time a complete stranger did something nice for you — perhaps they greeted you as you walked past them on your morning walk, maybe they let you in front of them in the grocery line, or picked something up for you that you dropped on the street. 

Do the same thing for others — pay it forward and do one kind gesture for a stranger, no matter how small it may be.

Give someone a compliment that isn’t about their appearance

Next time you’re with a friend or loved one, compliment them on a trait you admire. There is so much more value in commenting on a person’s kindness, or compassion, rather than on material objects like their shoes or activewear!

Give people your full attention

How many times have you seen others out for dinner together, only to notice they are glued to their phones and not engaging in discussion? 

Remaining present with the people around you is a subtle way of expressing your appreciation for them and showing them that you value their company. 

Do you feel like you rely on technology too much? A digital detox is a great way to take a break from your phone and make the most of your surroundings. 

Listen carefully

An easy way to start expressing gratitude towards someone else is to simply listen.

It can feel pretty awful when you notice others become distracted or disinterested when you are talking, so when you surround yourself with people who are important to you, make sure to be fully present and engage respectfully to let them know you care.

Let someone know you love them

Simply telling someone, “I am thankful for you” or “I love you” is a simple, yet meaningful way to spread positivity and gratitude.

Knowing how to express gratitude is the first step

Never underestimate the impact of kindness and compassion. 

These simple strategies on how to express gratitude are effective mindfulness exercises that can be incorporated into your daily life — why not try some of them today and see how they can lift your energy and the energy of those around you. 

How do you express gratitude? Comment below!