How to feel more gratitude and positivity

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Feeling gratitude to improve your mind set

Feeling gratitude even in the toughest times is one of the most important ways to help yourself gain a positive mind set.

“Another day to rise and shine and give thanks”⁠
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When times are tough, which they are, you can either look for the positives, however small, or focus on the bad.

Gratitude and Health

As someone who suffers with Chronic Illness I often struggle to think of the positives especially generic suggestions like health as obviously that isn’t the case. It is easy to feel let down by your body and isolated if you suffer.

This year I’m teaching myself to be open and honest. Being truthful about how I feel either in the moment or in life doesnt have to be negative. Even if I’m feeling bad. I can also ask for help and be strong.

I can be grateful for what I do have. Whilst still be affected by what I don’t.

After the pandemic, as the world opens up but the virus continues, you may feel stressed about venturing out. Or perhaps other peoples reactions to situations. Which whilst this is understandable it is, again, something you can’t control.

I personally struggle a lot with my mental health but find, that whilst not a perfect answer, mind set and mindfulness help. I am trying to think of the positives and carry on despite the bad.⁠

Holding on to negativity will affect both your mental and physical health. And often not too much more.

Things to be grateful for

Some of the positive things that I am grateful for right now and you might find you are too…⁠

• Family, fur babies, friends and their health⁠
• A secure home⁠
• Nourishment⁠
• The area of the world in which we live⁠
• The world around us
• The fact that I have been able to travel (even if it is currently past tense)⁠
• The places visited⁠
• The memories made⁠
• Clothes
• Entertainment-the fact that we now have things like DisneyPlus and Netflix at the touch of a button
• Art-from a painting to a favourite film-the fact that we as a species get to just look at pretty things for enjoyment
• A secure job which, hopefully, is enjoyed
• Hobbies and the time to do them

What would be on your gratitude list? Try literally writing it out as basic as possible and see.

How to turn gratitude into positivity

A real benefit of a gratitude list is not only to look over when you are feeling down but it will also inform you of the best things to do to help you feel more positive again.

For example…

You are grateful for family… so when you are down reach out to someone

You feel gratitude for the world around you… so plan a trip (just planning it is fun generally) or take an immediate walk outside

Gratiude for the art of cinema… so you could watch a tried and tested favourite film

In time you will realise generic statements of “I have nothing”, “I am nothing”, “What is the point” really don’t stack up as you present yourself the counter argument of your list of gratitudes.

In time you can also use the gratitude list to work out whether there are areas of your life making you feel down that you could work on, maybe relationships or your job. But turning your life around happens in small steps not large “life changing” leaps so always remember if you work on something negative to take some time to also do something you already know is positive.

For more tips on setting goals I’ve explained breaking goals and resolutions down into steps here.

And the most important thing I’ve learned from my various physical treatments and therapies in life is something I have found the hardest of all but is the most simple…

Rest is productive