The Gratitude Challenge: How to Cultivate a Daily Practice of Thankfulness

In a world filled with its fair share of challenges and daily chaos, losing sight of the little things that make life truly beautiful is easy. That's where the Gratitude Challenge comes into play – a down-to-earth and genuinely transformative practice that can sprinkle a bit of joy into your everyday routine.

In this blog post, we're diving headfirst into cultivating a daily practice of gratitude. I'll share practical insights and real-life tips that have enriched my journey toward a more peaceful, anxiety-free life. 

Whether you're on a quest to boost your mental well-being, nurture your relationships, or find contentment in the present moment, the Gratitude Challenge is a game-changer you won't want to miss. 

So, dear friends, on the road to mental wellness, let's explore the power of gratitude on our mental health.

Tips for starting a

Gratitude Practice

1. Start small and be consistent

Take a few minutes each day to reflect on what you're grateful for, and make it a daily habit.

One of my favorite books I've ever read is "Atomic Habits" by James Clear. In the book, he centers everything around making small 1% changes every single day and how, over time, those things add up to significant, impactful life changes. Making small changes seems less intimidating and has proven to be a more beneficial route.

Likewise, when it comes to gratitude, the more consistent we are, the more likely we are to have an impact on our lives and those around us.

Starting small and being consistent works well for just about anything in life, but when it comes to gratitude, it makes the practice more doable and maintainable.

2. Keep a gratitude journal

Write down three things you're grateful for daily, and reflect on why they matter to you.

When it comes to beginning something, starting small can be helpful. Journaling is the perfect way to do that! Make it your first order of business to get a journal and write down all the things you are grateful for. Start with a manageable number, like three items at first, and then work your way up from there!

I remember when I first left for Asia; someone recommended this practice to us because living in a different culture can be complicated and overwhelming. We were faced with challenges like I had never experienced before, living in my own little bubble of Southern American culture.

Putting gratitude into practice helped us to keep a positive perspective in highly stressful times. The most practical way I did this was through gratitude journaling!

3. Say "thank you" more often

Express your gratitude to others, whether through words, actions, or small gestures of kindness.

Have you ever been in a situation where you helped someone or did something nice for them, and they never said thank you? Those times are challenging. It's not that you ever did it for applause, but gratitude is always nice to hear, especially when you went out of your way for someone.

With that being said, putting in a practice of always being overly appreciative is always a good thing. Letting people know that you see their kindness and recognize their good deeds is such a small, practical way to shine light in this world.

4. Focus on what you have,

not what you lack

Instead of dwelling on what you don't have, appreciate the blessings and opportunities that are already in your life.

If you're anything like me, this might be the most challenging one yet! It's our nature to focus on what we don't have and completely overlook what we have.

If we look back at the Garden of Eden, the original issue with sin came from Adam and Eve being tempted by what they couldn't do rather than what they could do. They had all the trees in the garden to eat from and yet were so tempted by the one tree they were asked not to eat from.

Similarly, we, like Adam and Eve, tend to look at what we don't have rather than what we do. "Keeping up with the Joneses" isn't a coined phrase for nothing. We all want more than we have, and there's nothing wrong with aspiring for more, but if we cannot sit in gratitude where we are, then the ultimate form of happiness will never come.

I recently listened to a YouTube motivational video where Steve Harvey was discussing gratitude, and he related focusing on lack rather than what you do have as a form of ungratefulness. Realizing this problem, he shifted his mindset and began to see God really start to bless his life.

Since then, I've made it my mission to change my perspective from what I don't have to what I have been abundantly blessed with!

5. Share your gratitude with others

Encourage friends and family to join you in a gratitude challenge and support each other in cultivating a more positive mindset.

Here's the thing: We are all in this together! We must share the good news of gratitude with others. First, we try it for ourselves and communicate the impact of it on our lives with others. Like that motivational video with Steve Harvey did for me, I'm sharing it with you. We are all meant to live in a community and share goodness with others! Gratitude is a gift that we can give to this world, especially to those closest to us!

Here at Goodbye Anxious, we are ALL about walking in a state of mental wellness and mental wholeness. One of the ways we can do this best is by telling you all the little, consistent, and life-changing ways you can make small changes to your daily life and reap the mental health benefits for a lifetime! The practice of gratitude is one of many, but one of the greatest you can do!

Remember, you deserve to be free from mental torment, anxiety, and anxious thoughts! Not all changes are as astronomical as your anxiety would have you believe. Will you join me on this Gratitude Challenge?

I'd love to hear from you on how it's going! Please shoot us an email at [email protected] to tell us how this has impacted you!

Saying Goodbye to Anxious,
Kristina G.

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