How to Create an Attitude of Gratitude for a Better Life

Is your life pretty good, but your attitude goes up and down like a roller coaster?

An attitude of gratitude makes your life better because it anchors you in what is good in your life.

Gratitude shifts your attention from lack to… Man, my life is better than I thought.

Be sure to listen to the 2 minute AUDIO below of gratitude self-talk.

1. Practice gratitude each morning

Wake up each day and say a gratitude prayer and/or do a gratitude practice before your feet hit the floor.

You can express appreciation by simply saying: I’m so grateful for BLANK, I appreciate BLANK, Thank you for BLANK. Or, you can say the prayer below.

Also, sending positive vibes to someone you love can be another part of your gratitude practice. For example, I’m grateful for Liz and I’m sending positive thoughts her way.

You get two good things for one with this way of expressing thanks!

When you practice gratitude you raise your vibration. You feel warm, loved, cared for.

Wouldn’t you want to begin the day like that?

All you have to do is be in the present moment with a gratitude mindset. Here’s the prayer I recite each day first thing:

Thank you for this day.

Thank you for being here every step along the way.

I welcome your guidance and love, as I show up today to fulfill my mission in this life.

Then, list all of the things you’re grateful for. (AUDIO BELOW)

Start with the things that make your life amazing, like family and health and anything that’s close to your heart.

Then move to things that make your life comfortable. Maybe that’s your house, car, success, etc.

There are no rules here. Primarily, I would suggest listing what you’re darn happy and grateful about. Thankful appreciation makes you feel calm and happy.

2. Expressing gratitude

An attitude of gratitude is expressing gratitude daily, not only when something good happens.

Instead, express gratitude for life. For being born. For your body, even though it doesn’t always work right. For the hardships, even though they stink.

Feel grateful for the people who came into your life, even though some eventually left, while others were meant to be with you for life.

When you view your life as a steady flow of events that help you grow and evolve, you’re sense of happiness and joy rises. Your perspective shifts because you’re no longer focusing on the hurt.

Express gratitude openly and easily to people you’re grateful for.

And there’s something about being in nature that makes gratitude literally absorb into your body!

NOTE: When you feel hurt, don’t push it down. Feel it first… before jumping to gratitude and thankfulness.

After all of that are you feeling burdened that you’ll be saying thank you all day long? Only say thank you, if it feels right. This shouldn’t feel heavy or like an obligation.

Saying thank you is telling you the universe how abundant you feel. But, do it in YOUR way.

3. AUDIO: Attitude of gratitude self talk

Here’s a 2 minute audio to help you get a feel for an attitude of gratitude and positive self-talk.

I addition, I have a soulful morning routine where I connect within, call in my spirit guides, and quiet my mind for at least 30 minutes.

It’s regular practice that helps you deepen your relationship with your soul.

Audio script: Morning gratitude

This audio is for starting your day on the right foot in high energy, high vibration energy, and feeling good about yourself and about what you can accomplish during the day. 

So I always start the day with a gratitude prayer. 

Who are you saying this prayer to?

Bear in mind that this prayer can be said to a higher power, to your own inner self, to your deceased relatives. It doesn’t really matter. What matters is that as you’re seeing it, you’re in your heart and you’re expressing gratitude for what is going right, and that focuses your thoughts on what is going right.

You can always find something…

Thank you. I’m glad that’s going on, at least.  And we can always find something!  Even in the darkest days of my life, and there have been a number of them, I found something to be grateful for because I knew it would shift my energy.

I knew it would get me up out of bed in the morning and help me walk through my day. So here we go. 

Fulfill your mission in this life…

Thank you for this day. Thank you for being there every step along the way. I welcome your guidance and your love as I show up today to fulfill my mission in this life.

I’m grateful for…

I am grateful for my health. I’m grateful for my sons. I am grateful for my clients. I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve in a way that feels very passionate, fulfilling, and meaningful to me.

I am grateful for so much in my life.

My heart is open to receiving good things in my life. Today, I know that I am a creator in my life and that I can create positive things and I can create negative things. 

I don’t blame myself…

This is not about blame, and this is not about blaming myself for any of the negative things that come into my life.

It is about taking responsibility for what I think about and where I put myself, the places and situations I put myself in.  And so I am making choices that love me. 

I am choosing…

I am choosing to put myself in situations and with people who love and support me. I am grateful for my life. I’m grateful for this day. I’m grateful for all that I’m learning at this moment because I know that this moment is the perfect teacher. 

I’m paying attention and I’m listening, and I know that I’m not alone in this and that I’m being given what I need to learn, what I’m here to learn in this life.

4. Keep a gratitude journal

A gratitude journal is a journal, notebook, or app where you write down what you’re grateful for. 

Writing these things down focuses you on what’s working in your life, which is part of having an attitude of gratitude. 

Write down 3 to 5 things you’re grateful for each day. This is a simple and easy way to start practicing an attitude of gratitude. 

You can do this at the end of each day, or whenever you have a few minutes to spare.

Next, keep a list of the things you are grateful for. Jot them in your phone or on a post-it. While this may be tedious at first, it’s a good way of paying attention to what you’re grateful for. 

In addition, try writing a letter to someone you’re grateful is in your life.  Warn them that you’re not dying… as they might wonder why you’re sending the letter:)

But, even if you don’t send it, it’s a great exercise. 

5. Acknowledge thankfulness in your book!

When I wrote each of my books, I listed on the acknowledgment page at the beginning, all of the people I was grateful for in helping me write the book.   

It was a longer list than I expected, which felt great.

Honestly, this was a transformative exercise for me.

I was exhausted after writing, and frankly, writing is a bit lonely at times. So remembering all of the friends, mentors, and family members who helped me along the way made me feel phenomenally.

Harvard Health says that giving thanks can make you happier. 

Furthermore, studies have shown that gratitude journaling can have a number of benefits: reduced stress, better sleep, increased self-esteem, and improved relationships. 

What is an attitude of gratitude?

According to DiversisHealth.org, “An attitude of gratitude means making the conscious habit of expressing appreciation on a regular basis for big and small things alike.”

It’s walking through daily life with an attitude of gratitude!

Have a mindset that you’re grateful for ALL things that come into your life that help you learn and grow.

All things.

This includes being grateful for the meeting where you were challenged by your boss because he didn’t understand you. You learned something.

This includes when your car battery dies and you’re in a convenient place to be towed. (This happened to me last week!) I was grateful that I wasn’t 2 hours from home in a crowded city I didn’t know.

When you have an attitude of gratitude, you see the silver lining. You see the universe’s hand in situations that you might have missed before.

Furthermore, studies have shown that gratitude improves physical health as well. The Mayo Clinic says that gratitude improves sleep, mood, and immunity.

Self esteem and gratitude practice

People with high self-esteem are more likely to see the good in situations and be grateful for what they have.  They are also more likely to express gratitude and express appreciation to others. 

Why does self confidence make a difference?

People who feel good about themselves have a positive worldview and confidence in themselves and their abilities. As a result, they’re more likely to see the good in their lives. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: It’s human to feel uncomfortable or negative emotions regularly. Feeling sad, mad, afraid, etc. DOES NOT make you ungrateful:) However, gratitude shifts low energy.

Final thoughts

An attitude of gratitude is an effective way to be happier, improve your mental health, and have greater well-being.

However, it bears repeating that it’s human to feel uncomfortable or negative emotions regularly. Feeling negative emotions DOES NOT make you ungrateful!

You can be both grateful and human!

Gratitude means creating happy moments. When you’re grateful, you’re happier.

Plus, gratitude is a central part of a spiritual life.

Expressing gratitude sends more good your way and immediately shifts your energy to a higher vibration.