It's Thanksgiving! What a great day to show some gratitude for all the blessings in life. But, being thankful doesn't just need to be for today.
Here are five ways to make being grateful part of your everyday:
1. Be Grateful For Things You Hate
I know it's hard but it is for some use (money to pay your bills, house over your head, ability to work while job searching or ability to learn). If you are unemployed, be grateful for your unemployment because you can focus on job searching full time!
If you're grateful for the job you have, even if its not your dream job, things will begin to change so you enjoy your job more and opportunities for you will suddenly appear. This is what happened to me when I was terribly stuck in a job but I was still thankful for that paycheck. Out of nowhere an opportunity to become an Adjunct Professor at my company opened up which fit me perfectly.
I got to teach a course about how to navigate your career to new employees which I LOVED. I still had to keep my day job and put in lots of overtime but I was SO THANKFUL for a few hours in my day when I got to do something I was really excited about. And what happened next? More teaching and training opportunities continued to come to me effortlessly.
If you are grateful for the job you have, even it it's not your dream job, things will begin to change so you enjoy your job more and for you will suddenly appear. The more gratitude you feel, the happier you will be. job opportunities
[Related: How to Attract the Job You Want]
2. Start a Gratitude Journal
"Thank you is the bridge from where you are now to the life of your dreams. Your life will change by practicing gratitude and saying thank you." -Rhonda Byrne, author of The Secret and MagicEveryday, write down three things that you are thankful for. Just this simple act of being mindful about the blessings of life will immediately make you feel better about your day.
I did this when I was very bummed about the direction my life was headed and frustrated with things outside of my control. I actually recorded the video at the very bottom of this post at one of the hardest most difficult times in my life. Just watching it makes me a bit sad because I see the pain my eyes but also I see such a brave woman who battled through frustrations to be thankful. And staying positive paid off because many blessings came my way after that rough patch.
3. Count Your Blessings
Another way to show gratitude in your life is to count your blessings. When you're grateful for the things you have, no matter how small they may be, you will see those things instantly increase. You will be happier when you count your blessings. The more gratitude you feel, the happier you will be.
Studies show people who practice gratitude have closer relationships, are more connected to family and friends and have people look upon them more favorably. Even being thankful for your boss will give you more patience, understanding, compassion and kindness. You will forget about the things you use to complain about them if you are thankful for them.
I once had a very tough client in my previous corporate consulting job who was not nice to me AT ALL, but I was and still am SO THANKFUL to her for showing me how to handle difficult clients and situations with class.
4. Say More Thank You's
Start telling people thank you more. Make a point of saying thanks when you might otherwise not have. Everyday find something to thank someone else for.
It will make you happier and give you a better outlook for the day. You will also find joy in making others happier as well and develop deeper relationships with those around you when you are grateful for each other.
5. Watch and Read Things That Motivate You
This is always something that helps me get out of a funk. If you are feeling unhappy and like life sucks, check out this video I recorded a few years back:
