7 Things You Can Be Grateful For Today

I love my gratitude journal. It gives me a place to write down everything that I am grateful on any given day, at any given time. Looking back through it leaves me feeling happier, more positive and just better in general.

There truly is so much to be grateful for, the air we breathe, the country we live in, the job that allows us to put food on the table and a roof over our heads.

Here are 7 (slightly more obscure) things you can likely be grateful for today.

Diversity. You can be grateful for diversity in a number of ways. Be grateful that you are not the same as anyone else on the planet. Be grateful for the diversity in plants, animals and any other object in your space. Diversity keeps things interesting, diversity provides us with so much stuff to learn; languages, cultures, likes, dislikes, people’s intolerance, etc… Be grateful for and bask in the fact that you are unique and take time to learn what makes others unique.

Grace. Be grateful for a time today when you were able to exhibit a bit of grace, charm or elegance. Everyday we take time out to help someone else be it taking on a task to lighten someone’s load, keeping the house neat and tidy, or merely saying thank you in a display of acknowledgement and appreciation of another person.

Laughter. You can be grateful for a time when you laughed today. Whether it was a joke, a funny sight, a tickle or a funny situation be thankful for it. When you’re down in the dumps, sore, frustrated, sad, or annoyed a good laugh can be all you need to lighten your mood and to begin seeing things in a more positive light.

Acceptance. Be grateful for the group or society that you are a part of. Maybe it’s your lunch mates, your church, your sewing club, school, study groups, your family etc … Be grateful for the fact that these people choose to be around you and choose to spend a portion of their day with you. Be grateful for the acceptance you extend to others as well. When you call a friend just to say hi, or meet them for coffee be grateful that you are able and willing to do that.

Love. You can be grateful for the love you felt today from your significant other, your children, your close friend or even your pet. That mutual affection is not something everyone has a chance to experience. Be grateful for the people, places and things in your life that bring you feelings of warmth, worth and purpose. Be grateful in your ability to reciprocate such feelings and do so freely. It’s a great feeling.

Health. We may not be 100% healthy but that doesn’t mean you should give into the things that are failing you. If you can see be grateful that you can. If you can breathe be grateful for healthy lungs to keep you going. If you have functioning arms and hands be grateful that you can hug the ones you love, touch the grass, feel the temperature of your bath water, feed yourself, dress yourself, and brush your own teeth. There may be parts of us that perhaps aren’t as good as they should be anymore but the human body is so complex and so intricate that there is a ton of things that you can still be grateful for.

Emotions. Be grateful that you have emotions and are able to express them. Be grateful for the feelings of passion, anger, love, jealousy, sorrow, happiness, joy, and contentment. Emotions let us know that we are alive, that we care and that things matter. Feeling emotions is not a bad thing how we deal with and express them are key. Be grateful that you were happy enough today to smile and wave at your neighbour. Be grateful that you experienced pain when someone said something hurtful (it means you care).

If you are searching for a life of abundance it truly does begin with a healthy dose of daily gratitude. Express gratitude for the little things in life and you shift your thinking to the positive.

What are somethings you are grateful for on a daily basis? How do they make you feel?

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To have your own spot to stay focused on what real matters and promote positive thinking in your life please checkout Sherri’s Gratitude Journal by clicking here.

Photo courtesy of: moriza