18 October 2022

No matter how difficult life gets, it's important to remember that there is always something to be grateful for. Those small magnets of happiness are there even in the tough times. In the darkest of times, gratitude can be a light to guide you back to hope. Here are some tips on how to find gratitude during life's hardest moments.

Create That Gratitude List

What are you thankful for in life? It can be hard sometimes to think of what we are thankful for off the top of our heads. That is why making a list of all the things we are grateful for comes in handy. 

Start with the small things you could be taking for granted like your morning cup of coffee or blankets that keep you warm at night. We are surrounded by our blessings, and one can easily lose sight of that during hard times.

Express Your Gratitude

When you show your gratitude to someone, it can be a rewarding exchange for both you as the giver and them as the receiver. It can be easy to forget to say to people ‘thank you’ for the little things when you get stuck in your daily routine.

There are people all around you that could use a little extra love. Some of these are your neighbours, postmen, hotel concierges, supermarket servers, bankers, family members, and friends.

Make Gratitude a Daily Habit

Make gratitude a habit through daily affirmations. You can do this by going back to your gratitude list that you wrote down and read off the things that you are grateful for.  This will help retrain your brain to be more grateful during both the good times and the bad.

Having these little affirmations spread throughout your house where you frequently go will help you gain a grateful perspective and keep your subconscious in a positive state.

Focus on What You Have in the ‘Now’

During hard times it can be easy to lose sight of what you do have. You may have lost a loved one, but you are in good health, you have a good job, you have a house to sleep in at night, and you are surrounded by people who love you. All of these things can be taken for granted in one’s normal life, but it is extra important you bring your focus back to these small things during the dark times to keep you moving.

Get Out and Help Others

Everyone struggles at some point in their life, and while you may not be doing your best at that point and time, serving others can help you gain a new perspective. You can see what they are struggling with, and it can remind you that you do not have those problems yourself.

Helping others can also be a very rewarding experience. Seeing someone simply smile after your small deed of kindness can go a long way in your own journey of battling struggles. 

So next time you see someone struggling take the time to offer your hand. Who knows, maybe they can offer some help in your situation as well!

Curb That Complaining

One of the biggest killers of gratitude is complaining. And when you allow complaining to become a habit you will create negativity around you and that will attract even more negativity. One of the biggest downfalls to a person’s growth personally and professionally can in fact be complaining.

No one ever got anything from complaining except running everyone including their loved ones into the ground. So, for a whole month aim to never say a complaint once. It might be a tough call to stop complaining, but this will develop for you a habit to reject complaining that will stick with you for years to come. Simply doing this will give you a positive perspective and keep your mood and spirits high!