It can be easy to get caught up in the motions of everyday life. From family obligations to meeting work deadlines to household chores to maintaining a personal life – the list adds up quickly. Before you blink you can easily be swept up in the fast lane and forget to simply stop to give gratitude for the things around you. So, how does one execute living a life full of mindfulness and gratitude?
There are plenty of ways to embark on your gratitude journey and that can bring a handful of benefits to your overall well-being. If you feel overwhelmed about where to begin, keep reading to learn four simple things you can do throughout your daily life to be more mindful.
Wake Up With Purpose
For many of us, we wake up and instantly flood our minds with a laundry list of to-dos. Instead of thinking about everything and anything that needs to be completed, hit the pause button and focus on being present. A perfect task to help you wake up with purpose is to write down 3 things that you are grateful for. For example, you could be grateful for the bed you slept in, the sunlight peeking through your window, and for your health. When you find yourself in stressful moments throughout the day consider simply coming back to your three tokens of gratitude and ground yourself. Let your purpose fuel you for the day ahead and don’t forget that breathwork is always available to you if need be.
Stop Comparing
Constantly playing the comparison game is like slowly injecting poison into your bloodstream – no good will come out of it. One of the main reasons you may be struggling to feel grateful is because you are too busy being envious of others. When you focus all of your energy and attention on what others are doing or what you don’t have – noticing your own blessings will slip right through your fingertips. Don’t allow yourself to be blind to the wonderful things that are right in front of you.
The next time you find yourself comparing your life to others – flip your perspective. No matter the circumstances, there will always be someone who is better off and someone who is worse off. So instead of focusing on their green grass remember to water your own. By focusing on your own life and not being consumed by what other people have/do – you will fill your cup with gratitude and instantly feel a weight being lifted off your shoulders.
Slow Down
We live in a culture that idealizes the notion of being busy. Because if you aren’t “so busy” then you must not be successful, right? WRONG. By working smarter rather than harder you will grant yourself the gift of having the space to simply slow down. When you intentionally slow down you are able to live in the moment and bring attention to finding joy in simple pleasures. A few ways to ignite a slower pace is to incorporate meditation, soak in some fresh air or by unplugging from your devices.
Share Your Gratitude With Others
Paying it forward will never go out of style. Once you start building gratitude into your everyday life, your eyes will be opened to all the blessings that have been in front of you this entire time! You’ll be more mindful of the things you used to take for granted and will now look at them through a clearer lens. The best part about this is that you will be eager to share your gratitude with others. Small acts of kindness will not only make the other person’s day but yours as well. Whether it’s lending a helping hand, paying for the person’s coffee behind you, or picking up your spouse’s favorite dessert on the way home – there are plenty of ways to spread gratitude. Remember, the little things can make a huge difference in someone’s day and you should never be too busy or too out of tune to make them a priority.
