Why Gratitude Matters and 7 Ways to be More Thankful

While I do believe gratitude is important year-round, I will say that this time of year is the perfect time to ask the question of why gratitude matters. After all, it is something we all tend to focus on this time of year.

But what about the rest of the year? Does gratitude really matter?

The simple answer is yes, in fact, studies show that a regular practice of gratitude is good for your physical health, your relationships, and your general mental health.

There are also some personal reasons why you may want to focus on gratitude especially when it comes to simplifying and slowing down your life.

Why does Gratitude Matter?

Truth be told, gratitude is the key to simple living because the more you notice how much you have in so many ways the less you’ll be looking for more.

Gratitude matters because it allows you to:

1. Gratitude stops the comparison trap

We have all done it, we look at someone else’s house and compare it to our own home. Next, we’re looking at their kids, marriage, car, etc, and comparing their lives with our own lives. Let’s face it, most of us have a natural tendency to compare ourselves to others.

The problem is that we tend to compare ourselves in a way that results in our feeling less than adequate. Our comparisons usually leave us feeling discouraged and thinking less of ourselves in our current situation.

The comparison then becomes a quick surefire way to make us feel awful. Comparison steals our confidence and our joy.

The other side of this is gratitude.

When you express gratitude for all that you have, those feelings of resentment or envy for something you don’t have disappear. The two cannot co-exist because gratitude and resentment are polar opposites of each other.

Having more stuff doesn’t make you happy, in fact, trying to keep up with the “Jones” will make you miserable. However, being grateful for what you do have, changes that.

2. Gratitude allows you to appreciate the present.

Far too often we miss out on the good in our life trying to chase down the next big thing. When we continually focus on the next big thing, we miss the little things. And it’s those little ordinary moments that make up the big picture of life.

Gratitude, on the other hand, allows you to see the good that is in this present moment. When you intentionally stop and look around at your life and focus on all the good you have in this present moment you appreciate what you have right now!

As Eckhart Tolle said, “There is always a simplicity about the present moment.” The present moment — here and now — this is your life.

If you are wondering why gratitude matters, this is it, it is the key to appreciating and seeing all the good you have right now in this present moment.

3. Gratitude makes us more resilient.

Life happens. We’ve all gone through stages in which life is just plain hard. Stress settles in and feelings of discouragement begin to take over.

However, in a recent study conducted by the University of California, it was shown that grateful people are able to bounce back from setbacks more quickly.

This is because gratitude enhances our emotional resilience and builds our inner strength to combat stress.

So when life feels challenging gratitude matters and is the fastest way to get back on track. When you are intentional in focusing on being grateful for the things you have in life, you see the good amidst the difficulty.

4. Gratitude leads to contentment

Everywhere we turn we’re bombarded with messages trying to convince us that we “need” the latest product, a newer car, or a bigger house. All of these marketing messages make it easy to get caught up in wanting more.

The biggest problem with these messages is they lead to the desire for more and more. Giving in to these messages just proves that no matter how much you acquire it never feels like enough.

Breaking this cycle is exactly why gratitude matters. When you focus on what you have rather than what you lack, you’ll find meaning and contentment in your life.

This is because gratitude shifts our focus. Our circumstances may still be challenging, however, our focus on all that is good despite the challenging circumstances results in contentment with where we are and what we have.

How to Cultivate Gratitude and Be More Thankful

Now that you understand why gratitude matters, the next logical question is how do you cultivate gratitude?

The good news is there are a variety of ways to establish a practice of gratitude. It is really about the way that works best for you. Just know that the key to cultivating gratitude in your daily life is consistency.

What this means is making a conscious effort to practice gratitude.

So let’s look at seven options and start with the one you think you will be able to do consistently.

1. Keep a Gratitude Journal

Some people love to journal while others may find it difficult to stay consistent. If you do enjoy journaling this is an excellent way to cultivate gratitude in your daily life.

A gratitude journal is simply a dedicated journal or notebook where you list out what you are thankful for each day. If daily is too much, start out by writing down a few things at the end of the week.

The nice thing about a gratitude journal is it helps you to be intentional in looking for those little things that are true blessings. Far too often we take these things for granted and miss the blessing that they are.

2. Create a Gratitude Jar

Another great option for cultivating gratitude is creating a gratitude jar. This is very similar to a journal but instead of writing in a dedicated notebook, you jot down what you are thankful for on small strips of paper and place that in the jar.

I particularly love this idea for a family, it’s an excellent way to help children learn the importance of practicing gratitude.

Every evening when you are sitting down for dinner everyone can write out one thing they were thankful for that day and add it to the jar. After the jar is full it becomes a fun way to look back at all the ways your family has been blessed.

3. Remembering that Gratitude is a choice

When we talk about “cultivating” or “choosing” gratitude it’s because gratitude really is a choice we consciously make.

We all have experienced an unexpected turn of events when things did not work out the way we had hoped. Sometimes it’s a simple inconvenience other times those unexpected events are life-changing.

During these times, making an intentional choice to find something good during these hard times will make all the difference in how you deal with life’s trials.

Yes, things may very well still be hard. I want to be clear that I am not advocating for some fake happiness or pretense that those circumstances are not hard.

What I am advocating for is actively choosing to look for and see the good, even if it is just friends or family supporting you through that trial.

That change in perspective may be what you need to carry you through that difficult season.

4. Make Gratitude a part of your daily to-do list

This is personally my favorite way to ensure I am intentionally focusing on gratitude each day. And if you are a planner person I highly recommend this practice.

My daily planner has a specific section to write down things I am grateful for. Because I use my planner daily it’s a daily reminder to focus on what I am thankful for.

Even when I have a crazy, busy, or overwhelming week, I can still focus on gratitude in the midst of it.

5. Create Habits centered around gratitude

The more you do something the easier it gets. Soon it becomes second nature. Because you know why gratitude matters, by creating habits centered around this practice, it will soon become effortless.

This is one of the reasons I like writing down things I am grateful for in my planner. Reviewing my planner daily is a habit I already have in place. By having a specific place to note things I am thankful for, I have formed this habit.

Think through the habits or routines you already have in place. How can you add the practice of gratitude there?

Perhaps you drop the kids off at school each day, use this time to think about something in your children that makes you grateful. When cleaning the house look at all you have, healthy food to eat while washing dishes, etc.

By incorporating the practice of gratitude into your daily habits you will find this vital practice becoming second nature.

6. Use Visual Reminders

The thing about gratitude is that it is not second nature for most of us. It is something we have to be purposeful and intentional in cultivating.

Because of this, it’s much easier to forget. However, having visual reminders as to why gratitude matters is a fantastic way to trigger this practice.

This is especially true if you tend to be a visual person.

Try framing some of your favorite quotes on gratitude. You can also follow social media accounts that remind you to focus on gratitude.

Having those visual reminders before you will help you stop and look around at all you have and be thankful.

7. Do something for someone else

Sometimes we can get so stuck in our own circumstances that it seems impossible to find things to be grateful for. We are just tapped out.

When this happens you need to get out of your own head. The best way to do this is by focusing on someone else and doing something to help them.

Whether it’s bringing a meal to a friend who is not feeling well, volunteering at a shelter of some type, or even paying for the person in front of you. It can be as big or as simple as you are able.

I promise you, when you do this you will find yourself feeling good and grateful for your own life. This is because the ability to help another in need in and of itself is a reason to be grateful!

Focusing on others naturally elicits feelings of gratitude.