3-Ways to Use Gratitude to Increase Your Well-being

Truth time: I had never heard of World Gratitude Day before.  However, it’s a genuine day celebrated each year on September 21st.  

What is World Gratitude Day?  It’s a day dedicated to being thankful.

As you may know, I’m a big advocate of gratitude and firmly believe in its positive effect on well-being.  I’ve personally used all of the activities I’m sharing with you, and the first one helped me during a particularly difficult time in my life.  Truly, it was what kept me going, and I’ve continued with it ever since.

RELATED: Why Practising Gratitude Increases Your Happiness 

The founders of World Gratitude Day also recognise that making time for gratitude, appreciation & positive reflection improves our well-being and makes us happier, more contented people¹.

So, in honour of World Gratitude Day, I’m sharing 3 powerful activities to kickstart (or enhance) your gratitude practice and help you move forward on your journey to living happier! 

3-Ways to Use Gratitude to Increase Your Well-being

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#01 Gratitude List 

Once a week over the next 3-4 weeks, simply write down 5 things you’re grateful for.  That’s it.  

Sound too simple to be effective?  Well, yes, it is simple, but believe me, it’s very effective.  In fact, this exercise can yield some powerful psychological effects.  

And you don’t need to just take my word for it either.  A well-known 2003 study asked participants to do just this.  Not only did the participants begin to view their lives more holistically and become more optimistic, but they also reported fewer health issues and increased time spent exercising each week.  

Excitingly, these effects persisted for months after the exercise ended.  What a great reason to spend a few minutes each week listing what you’re grateful for.

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#02 Sharing Gratitude

Gratitude is even more powerful when we share it.  Tell others you’re grateful for them. 

One psychologist created the ‘gratitude visit’, involving writing a letter to someone you’re grateful to, visiting them and reading the letter to them in person – I think you might need tissues for that bit!  Again, the happiness levels increased for both parties concerned for a significant period of time. 

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Top Tip: If an in-person gratitude visit isn’t possible, you can adapt it – why not do it over videocall?  (Just make sure your screen hasn’t frozen halfway through!) 

This way of expressing your gratitude is great for improving your relationships with people.  We’re suddenly focusing on what we love about someone and making them aware of it, too.  What a fantastic way to make everyone feel good.  

RELATED: 5 Simple Activities to Help You Feel Happier

#03 A Little Thanks

A study titled ‘A little thanks goes a long way’ found a simple thank you from a supervisor at work, increased people’s work ethic and naturally got them to work harder.  

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Now, we’re not all supervisors or business owners, but in any work context, how often have you expressed gratitude to your colleagues, suppliers or customers?  Thanks for your hard work this week.  Thanks for supporting me in that meeting.  Thanks for always getting my order to me on time.  Thank you for your business.  A few small words of thanks can make a big difference.  

And parents, how often have you thanked your children?  If they’ve behaved well, been patient, or done as they were asked?  Regardless of whether you feel this is something they should do naturally, take a moment to just acknowledge it with them.  They’ll feel happier and encouraged to do more of the same, and as a result, you’ll be happier too.

Celebrating World Gratitude Day

What better time to kickstart these simple practices than on a day dedicated to gratitude and thankfulness?  Pick up your pen and grab some paper, embrace all the positive energy that focusing on gratitude brings, and in no time at all, you (and all those on the receiving end of your gratitude) will be feeling the many well-being benefits!  

¹Source: Days of the Year

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A Big Thank You From Me…

In the spirit of gratitude, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to you and every reader & member of the Living.Pretty.Happy community.  Your time & presence mean so much to me. 

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RELATED: How to Boost Your Mood, Anytime & Anywhere

Had you heard of World Gratitude Day before? Do you currently do any gratitude practices? What has been your experience? Do you feel you’ll try any of the activities I mentioned here? Whatever you’d like to say, or ask, please do – I’m happy to help & I always love to hear from you.