The path to happiness is not always easy but it’s fairly simple. To be happy, you need to always be thankful for everything you have.
There is always something to be thankful for.
We all go through difficult periods in life. Some of us have lost something precious, like our health or a loved one but even while we mourn, the best comfort is to look at what we have.
Whenever we choose to shift our attention from what we lack to what we have, we’re choosing gratefulness and positivity over self-loathing.
Whenever life gets difficult, you have to remind yourself that things always change. Nothing is set in stone.
That’s yet another thing to be grateful for, the possibility to change things in our life, the possibility to choose freely.
Big milestones in life that we so impatiently wait for are great but what about everyday life we often take for granted?
When you start to truly be grateful, your whole life turns around.
In order to remind you of your everyday blessings, here’s a little list of things to say thanks for.
Always be thankful for…
… your family.
“Thank you, God, for all your blessings to me and my family. For the strength you give me each day and for all the people around me who make life more meaningful…” —Unknown
Your loved ones are your greatest treasures. There’s nothing that compares to family.
Often, when we’re younger, we don’t realize how valuable family is.
After the rocky road of puberty, we slowly began to realize that there’s no other bond quite like the one with parents and siblings.
They’ve seen your worst and your best and stayed by your side. Your family is there to support you and cheer on you when nobody else is.
We take things for granted. We get annoyed by silly things and forget about the love that’s always present.
Not everyone is fortunate to have a family or a healthy family relationship. Luckily, it’s true what they say: family isn’t just your blood.
The people who are there for you in your worst moments and who genuinely support you and show you love are your family too.
… your health.
“I have a lot to be thankful for. I am healthy, happy and I am loved.” —Reba McEntire
Good health is one of the biggest blessings in life. When we’re healthy, we usually don’t think about how fortunate we are to have a functional body.
Whenever the slightest change happens, for example, when we get a common cold and can’t breathe properly, we realize how fortunate we were just days prior.
In moments when we’re sick, we almost can’t imagine how it was to be healthy.
Imagine what all seriously ill people go through every day and can’t change anything about it.
Look at your body with a fresh pair of eyes. Look at every body part and be thankful it’s functioning and healthy.
A lot of things can be fixed and improved but lost health so often can’t be, despite our efforts.
… people who have helped you.
“In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.” —Albert Schweitzer
There’s probably nothing more heartwarming than the fact that a stranger is willing to help you.
This is such a huge and wonderful thing. It means they empathize with you and decide to help you without conditions or prejudice.
What’s that other than pure love?
Not all people who help us are strangers but even our friends are not always there for us when we need them, so there’s something special in the kindness of strangers.
Never, ever forget the people who decided to understand you and help you without asking for anything back.
Remember it and do the same for someone else.
Everyone deserves to be treated with care and patience, so make sure they are and be thankful for the people who blessed you with their kindness.
… freedom.
“... while freedom is a gift from God, it must be secured by His people here on Earth.” — Barack Obama
So many of us don’t think about how fortunate we are to experience freedom.
The freedom to choose our partner, family, religion, friends, jobs and othe, little things, like what kind of food we’re going to eat, what kind of clothes we’re going to wear and so on.
These are not to be taken for granted. Humanity has experienced too many ugly things throughout history and hopefully learned a lot from it too.
Praise God and always be thankful for the ability to live your life as you want it. Think about those who can’t and fight for their freedom.
… money.
“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” ―Oprah Winfrey
It’s easy to get frustrated with things like money.
It seems like there’s never enough of it and we always search for ways to make ourself feel more secure by stacking our bank accounts.
However, sometimes it’s good to remind ourself and feel thankfulness for what we already have, whether it’s a lot or a little.
It’s extremely important to understand that abundance doesn’t come from our possessions but that it’s the state of our spirit.
Yes, money is important but it’s not the most important thing in life and never should be.
Other than that, many people experienced money gain when they stopped thinking about their lack of it!
There’s a difference between wanting money and constantly worrying if you’ll have it.
The more you accept the fact that you can have money without years of blood, sweat and tears, the easier your relationship with money will get.
… your accomplishments.
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” —Philippians 4:8
Remember your accomplishments! Think about all the times you did something good. Be thankful for your skills, for your intellect, for your strength…
Look back on your life and be proud of what you’ve done. It doesn’t have to be grand things.
You can be proud of your relationship, your children, your education or your physical looks. Whatever you work hard for, be proud of it.
… peace of mind.
“Gratitude is one of the sweet shortcuts to finding peace of mind and happiness inside. No matter what is going on outside of us, there’s always something we could be grateful for.” —Barry Neil Kaufman
Feeling calm is yet another very important feeling, yet it’s taken for granted.
Finding peace of mind is the ultimate life goal and we’re lucky if we reach it and experience it daily.
Every human being needs peace to feel good and productive. Calmness and gratitude are dependent on each other. Without gratitude, there’s no calmness.
… planet Earth.
“The Earth is what we all have in common.” ―Wendell Berry
We also need to give thanks to the planet we live on. It’s an incredible thing that we not only exist but exist in such a beautiful place as planet Earth.
Planet Earth is what keeps us alive. It provides us with food and water. It possesses so many beautiful things for us to enjoy.
Not only should we be thankful for it but we should treasure and care for it.
… advantages of our time.
“Reflect upon your present blessings of which every man has many -not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.” —Charles Dickens
Always be thankful for the seemingly ‘little’ things in life.
For example, clean water, electricity, a roof above your head, Wi-Fi, technology that helps you in your everyday tasks…
Can you imagine living without those things? Hardly.
All of this is luxury, a luxury we have got used to. People in the past lived far more uncomfortable and dangerous lives than us.
We are fortunate to live at a point in history where we can live comfortably.
… feeling inspired.
“To live, to truly live, one must consider each and every thing a blessing.” ―Kamand Kojouri
Feeling genuine joy is a blissful thing. When we’re happy, we usually don’t think about our happiness; however, when we’re sad, we miss it.
Many people struggle to find purpose in their life due to different reasons. Inspiration and joy aren’t always parts of everyone’s life.
That’s why we should be thankful for feeling inspired, being fueled with purpose and having a positive outlook on life.
… your life.
Most of all, be grateful for your life. Everyone has their good days and their bad days.
Nevertheless, life is a wonderful gift and it should be treated as such.
When you fall into a routine, it’s easy to stray off course. There are so many truly magical things that we simply forget and get used to.
It’s important to keep a grateful heart and remind yourself that nothing happens by chance.
Practicing gratefulness in everyday life
There’s one thing I wish everyone did: keep a gratitude journal!
Gratitude journals are a great way to make thankfulness a habit. A thankful heart should be the norm.
How to start your gratitude journal?
Pick up a cute notebook and go for it. It doesn’t have to be stylistically perfect or carefully planned.
Just relax and start writing whatever comes to your mind and do it every day.
Set aside a time for writing and make sure nothing disturbs you while you do it.
Look back on the day that has passed and think about the little things that made you feel good.
Other than that, express gratitude to your partner, your children and the people around you.
To help you start off, here are a few ideas about the things you can write about.
Ideas for writing
People in your life
1. Your friend you haven’t seen for a while
2. Your partner and their traits you appreciate
3. Someone you don’t get to see often
4. The people who take care of your kids besides you
5. The people you work with
6. Artists who inspire you and make your life happier
7. Someone who has challenged you
8. Your kids and inspiring things about them
The little things
1. Your morning routine
2. Your favorite food
3. Your hobbies
4. Your job
5. Your looks
Other
1. Family memories
2. Moments when you laughed uncontrollably
3. Changes in your life
4. Something you accomplished on your own
5. A skill you learned just for the sake of it
11 bonus gratitude quotes to inspire you
1. “When eating fruit, remember the one who planted the tree.” —Vietnamese proverb
2. “Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” —Unknown
3. “Thankfulness is the beginning of gratitude. Gratitude is the completion of thankfulness. Thankfulness may consist merely of words. Gratitude is shown in acts.” —Henri Frederic Amiel
4. “Gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions. The more you express gratitude for what you have, the more likely you will have even more to express gratitude for.” —Zig Ziglar
5. “Be grateful for what you already have while you pursue your goals. If you aren’t grateful for what you already have, what makes you think you would be happy with more.” —Roy T. Bennett
6. “Whatever happens in your life, no matter how troubling things might seem, do not enter the neighborhood of despair. Even when all doors remain closed, God will open up a new path only for you. Be thankful!” ―Elif Shafak
7. “One of the main reasons that we lose our enthusiasm in life is because we become ungrateful. We let what was once a miracle become common to us. We get so accustomed to his goodness it becomes a routine.” ―Joel Osteen
8. “The world has enough beautiful mountains and meadows, spectacular skies and serene lakes. It has enough lush forests, flowered fields and sandy beaches. It has plenty of stars and the promise of a new sunrise and sunset every day. What the world needs more of is people to appreciate and enjoy it.” ―Michael Josephson
9. “Make it a habit to tell people thank you. To express your appreciation, sincerely and without the expectation of anything in return. Truly appreciate those around you, and you’ll soon find many others around you. Truly appreciate life, and you’ll find that you have more of it.” ―Ralph Marston
10. “‘Thank you’ is the best prayer that anyone could say. I say that one a lot. Thank you expresses extreme gratitude, humility, understanding.” —Alice Walker
11. “Everyone enjoys being acknowledged and appreciated. Sometimes even the simplest act of gratitude can change someone’s entire day. Take the time to recognize and value the people around you and appreciate those who make a difference in your lives.” ―Roy T. Bennett
See also: 146 Thankful Quotes To Inspire Gratefulness All Year Long
Wrap up…
I hope this article inspired you and gave you reasons to always be thankful.
As soon as you shift your attention to the things you’re grateful for, you’ll start noticing more things that make you happy.
Not only that but you’ll attract more things that will bring you joy and give you more reasons to be thankful.
Whatever you do and whatever you go through, keep your heart grateful and you’ll receive blessings.
They say that what you put out in the universe, comes back to you. Let it be good things.
Life without gratitude can’t be a happy life. That’s why you should use this shortcut to happiness and just pay attention.