Living Life with Gratitude
Ranked #1,804 in Culture & Society, #41,330 overall | Donates to Global Giving
A Daily Resolution - Being Grateful for What Life May Bring
Many of the simple things in life can be reasons for being grateful. These are often things that we tend to take for granted--our health, family, friends, our livelihood--until they are brought to our attention or taken away.
Remembering to be grateful daily for one's health, family, friends, a job during a recession, having a roof over one's head and food on the table is a good way to start living with gratitude.
As each year ends and a new one begins we have the opportunity to stop and reflect on the current state of our lives and remember to be grateful. Each New Day can give us the chance to start anew and is an excellent time to start keeping a Gratitude Journal, as a written reminder of for all that you have to be grateful.
Take a few moments as you read through this lens, think about what are grateful for everyday.
Begin Your Day with Gratitude
If you begin looking at each breath as a blessing, then suddenly everything in an ordinary life becomes a miracle-delighting in the colors of the setting sun, feeling the rain on your face or smelling the amazing fragrance of a single perfect rose.Kirsti A. Dyer
Image Source: Creative Commons. Kirsti A. Dyer
Expressing Affirmations of Gratitude
Living Life with Gratitude
An Affirmation is "a positive short statement that you repeat to yourself to help you work toward a goal in a positive frame of mind" or on that "has been specifically worded for the purpose of reprogramming the subconscious mind with positive and spiritual thoughts."
You can get yourself to feel more grateful about life and to live with gratitude, by practicing some simple affirmations.
You can get yourself to feel more grateful about life and to live with gratitude, by practicing some simple affirmations.
Simple Affirmations of Gratitude
Affirmations to Live Life with Gratitude
This is a series of affirmations that you can use to live life with more gratitude.
You could also pick any of the scattered quotes within this lens to use as a longer grateful affirmation.
You could also pick any of the scattered quotes within this lens to use as a longer grateful affirmation.
-
Upon rising think:
- Today I am grateful for...
-
Repeat the Lyrics of the song "Grateful" by John Bucchino:
- Grateful, grateful,
Truly grateful I am.
Grateful, grateful.
Truly blessed
And duly grateful.
-
Perhaps the simplest of grateful affirmations:
- Life is good.
The Secret Gratitude Journal on Amazon
The Secret Gratitude Book
Amazon Price: $12.11 (as of 02/18/2012)
The New Gratitude Journal available from the makers of the film, "The Secret."
The Secret Gratitude Journal has helpful journal prompts, gratitude in many different languages and in the beautiful old style script used in "The Secret."
This journal was one I gifted to myself this Christmas to use as my Gratitude Journal for 2008.
Keeping a Gratitude Journal
Living Life with Gratitude
Starting a Gratitude Journal can be pretty easy. All you need to do is to pick a blank journal that you will enjoy writing in and then write down a daily list of things for which you are grateful or things that bring joy, happiness or abundance into your life.The number varies from three, to five to ten. Five is usually the number suggested. First thing in the morning or before you go to bed you can write about five things for which you are grateful.
Sarah Ban Breathnach explains the purpose behind the gratitude journal:
- As the months pass and you fill your journal with blessings, an inner shift in your reality will occur. Soon you will be delighted to discover how content and hopeful you are feeling.
As you focus on the abundance rather than on the lack in your life, you will be designing a wonderful new blueprint for the future. This sense of fulfillment is gratitude at work, transforming your dreams into reality.
Source: Ban Breathnach S. Gratitude Journal.
Photo Source: Kirsti A. Dyer. Journaling.
Gratitude Journal Prompts
Ways to Get Started Writing a Gratutide Journal
Here are three different quotes with questions as suggestions for starting you writing about gratitude:
-
Real life isn't always going to be perfect or go our way,
but the recurring acknowledgment
of what is working in our lives
can help us not only to survive but surmount our difficulties.
Sarah Ban Breathnach
Take a moment to think and reflect before you start writing then consider the question "What is working in your life?"
-
Appreciation of life itself,
becoming suddenly aware of the miracle of being alive,
on this planet,
can turn what we call ordinary life into a miracle.
Dan Wakefield
After reading this quote, think about this question, "What are some of the simple things in your life for which you are grateful?"
-
We can only be said to be alive
in those moments
when our hearts
are conscious of our treasures.
Thornton Wilder
Pause for a moment and reflect upon the question "What you have or who is in your life that you hold dear?"
The Gratitude Journal on Amazon
The Gratitude Journal
Amazon Price: $8.00 (as of 02/18/2012)
A gratitude journal that will help you create a positive outlook on who you are and who you want to be.
It will guide you on a journey to find happiness and being grateful for what life may bring.
This journal makes you think about simple things and focuses on being positive.
Websites on Gratitude Journals
Writing to Express Gratefulness
- Sarah Ban Breathnach on Oprah.com
- In March of 1996, Oprah invited Sarah Ban Breathnach to The Oprah Winfrey Show. Her book Simple Abundance inspired Oprah to start a gratitude journal.
- Sharing the Gratitude - Remembering Shannon with Bookmark therapy
- After the death of their daughter, Shannon, Jules and Jan Brooms sent gratitude bookmarks to let people know how much they meant to her.
- Your Gratitude Journal :: On www.simpleabundance.com
- The Official Website of Sarah Ban Breathnach's Simple Abundance and Home of Sarah's online magazine and Movement.
- Gratitude Journals Heal
- An article from Kay Marie Porterfield an expert on journal writing, writing as a tool for healing, and the creative processes.
Gratitude Journals
Available on Amazon
Giving Thanks for an Amazing Day
Quotes for Living Life with Gratitude
- i thank you God for this most amazing day,
for the leaping greenly spirits of trees,
and for the blue dream of sky
and for everything which is natural,
which is infinite, which is yes.
e.e. cummings
Photo Source: Kirsti A. Dyer MD, MS.
A Squidoo Lens on Oprah Winfrey
One of the Big Advocates of Keeping a Gratitude Journal
- Be thankful for what you have and you will end up having more. But if you concentrate on what you don't have,
you'll never, ever have enough.
Oprah Winfrey
Empty Journals to Fill with Your Reasons for Gratitude
Available on Amazon
Appreciating Life
Quotes for Living Life with Gratitude
- Appreciation of life itself,
becoming suddenly aware of the miracle of being alive,
on this planet,
can turn what we call ordinary life into a miracle.
Dan Wakefield
Grateful: A Song of Giving Thanks in the Amazon Spotlight
Grateful: A Song of Giving Thanks (Julie Andrews Collection)
Amazon Price: $10.19 (as of 02/18/2012)
This book with the accompanying CD is one of the books that I got for my daughters to teach them about gratitude and being grateful.
When they were younger we would read it to them before bed at night and then ask what everyone was "grateful for" from the day. The girls still say their "gratefuls" as a daily practice.
A Powerful Message on Living Gratefully on YouTube vids
Living Life with Gratitude
curated content from YouTube
Research and Articles on Living Life with Gratitude
- Gratitude: Pay It Forward
- From the Greater Good Magazine's Summer 2007 an article by Robert A. Emmons PhD on Gratitude. Dr. Emmons teaches in the the department of psychology at the University of California, Davis.
- Highlights from the Research Project on Gratitude and Thanksgiving
- A research project investigating the Gratitude Interventions and Psychological and Physical Well-Being by Dr. Robert A. Emmons at the University of California, Davis.
- Why Living a Life of Gratitude Can Make You Happy
- Blog article from Zen Habits.
Be Thankful Today
Quotes for Living Life with Gratitude
- Let us rise up and be thankful,
for if we didn't learn a lot today,
at least we learned a little,
and if we didn't learn a little,
at least we didn't get sick,
and if we got sick,
at least we didn't die;
so, let us all be thankful.
Buddha
Being Grateful in the Midst of a Challenge
Living Life with Gratitude
As strange at it might seem even in the midst of a major life challenge most people can still find something to be thankful for or something for which they can express gratitude, if only that the situation isn't worse.
Comedian-actor Jim Carrey, who has faced his own series of personal difficulties, challenges anyone in their darkest moment to
Comedian-actor Jim Carrey, who has faced his own series of personal difficulties, challenges anyone in their darkest moment to
- Write what they're grateful for, even stupid little things like green grass or a friendly conversation with somebody on the elevator.
You start to realize how rich you are.
- When the heart is full of gratitude, there is little room left for despair.
Some Expressions of Gratitude and Gratefulness
On Flickr
A collection of what different people had tagged with Gratitude or Gratefulness on Flickr.
curated content from Flickr
Gratitude is an Easy, Painless Practice
Quotes for Living Life with Gratitude
- Gratitude is said to be a virtue, but I find it helpful to think of it as a practice.
Unlike playing the piano, meditating, or playing sports, the practice of gratitude is easy and painless.
You practice it each time you thank someone.
Marcia Z. Nelson
Source: Nelson MZ. An Excerpt from The Gospel According to Oprah. SpiritualityandPractice.com
A Grateful Heart - Collection of Daily Blessings
In the Amazon Spotlight
A Grateful Heart: Daily Blessings for the Evening Meal from Buddha to the Beatles
Amazon Price: $9.05 (as of 02/18/2012)
One of the books that I have in my own collection.
A birthday gift from my Dad several years ago.
Gratitude Unlocks the Fullness of Life
Quotes for Living Life with Gratitude
- Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.
Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.
Melody Beattie
Gratitude in the News
The Latest News about Gratitude from Google
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byGratitude Journals from the Secret on Amazon
The Secret Gratitude Book (or Journal) and Jack Canfield's Gratitude Journal are two of the Gratitude Journals that have been created to go along with "The Secret" the inspiring movie.
Gratitude that Nurtures the Soul
Quotes for Living Life with Gratitude
- If you concentrate on finding whatever is good in every situation,
you will discover that your life will suddenly be filled with gratitude,
a feeling that nurtures the soul.
Rabbi Harold Kushner
Recommended Books on the Science of Gratitude
Available from Amazon
Join the Grateful Chain
A Way to Enhance Your Life
- Grateful Chain
- A website created to bringing people together in an uplifting supportive and fun environment while empowering them to build healthful, beneficial, life-enhancing habits through entertainment, education and personal development.
Expressing and Living Gratitude
Quotes for Living Life with Gratitude
- As we express our gratitude,
we must never forget that
the highest appreciation is not to utter words,
but to live by them.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy
A Beautiful Video that Asks What Are You Grateful For?
Living Life with Gratitude
curated content from YouTube
Bringing Joy and Laughter into Your Life
Quotes for Living Life with Gratitude
- Gratitude helps you to grow and expand;
gratitude brings joy and laughter into your life
and into the lives of all those around you.
Eileen Caddy
Recommended Books on Gratitude and Gratefulness
Available on Amazon
Teaching Gratitude on YouTube
How to "Practice Gratitude" - Teach Gratitude with Children
* Keep a Gratitude Journal/Lists
* Write a Gratitude Letter
* Ask kids to tell you 3 good things about their day.
* Keep a Gratitude Journal/Lists
* Write a Gratitude Letter
* Ask kids to tell you 3 good things about their day.
curated content from YouTube
Being Grateful for the Little Things
Quotes for Living Life with Gratitude
- We often take for granted
the very things that most deserve our gratitude.
Cynthia Ozick
Other Squidoo Lenses on Being Grateful
Living Life with Gratitude
Visit the Gratefulness.org Site
- Gratefulness.org - A Network for Grateful Living
- A Network for Grateful Living is a world-wide community for grateful life and action. Our mission is to challenge and inspire people to go beyond mere thanks-giving and find in grateful living the key to personal fulfillment and to a universal family spirit.
A Squidoo Lens on Altruism or Giving Back
A Way of Expressing Gratitude for All You Have Been Given
Altruism is an unselfish concern for the welfare of others. It is a generous way of expressing gratitude for all that you have been given.
A Simple Prayer of Thanks
Quotes for Living Life with Gratitude
- If the only prayer you said in your whole life was,
"thank you,"
that would suffice.
Meister Eckhart
More Squidoo Lenses on Gratitude and Gratefulness
Living Life with Gratitude
What are you Grateful for in your life?
A Simple Reminder to Life Life with Gratitude
Share the gratitude.
Post three things that you are grateful for in your life.
submit
-
Reply
-
MerryM Feb 7, 2012 @ 2:00 pm | delete
- What wonderful quotes about gratitude here! Thank you for gathering them together. :)
-
-
Reply
-
Tipi
Feb 5, 2012 @ 6:09 am | delete
- Its always good to be reminded of the things we can be grateful for, and this has been a great way to start my day. Very encouraging lens and right on. :)
-
-
Reply
-
MiddleSister
Oct 30, 2011 @ 5:05 pm | delete
- My son often reminds me to be grateful. I have post-its around that remind me to do so.
-
-
Reply
-
Raymond Valerio
Oct 12, 2011 @ 11:05 am | delete
- im grateful to be alive myself, but im even more grateful for life as a whole.If we’re simply grateful for life itself, we can be thankful even when we have nothing. Our gratitude is rooted in the permanent and not ever-changing landscape of our lives. <3 <3 everyone is a source of love therefore everyone should spread love every second of their life <3 the love that you give is equal to the love that you get, so keep giving love and your spirit will live in bliss for all eternity. notice everytime you give love, 100x times the amount of that love given gets jolted back into you. so keep giving
-
-
Reply
-
aesta1
Sep 17, 2011 @ 5:09 am | delete
- I am grateful for so many things...we have a blessed life. Like this lens much.
-
-
Reply
-
Wedding_Mom
Jun 5, 2011 @ 5:41 am | delete
- This lens just made me realize that we really have to live life with gratitude, simply because it makes every significant person and experience in our life meaningful and sensible. you are doing a great job with this lens. Lovely work!
-
-
Reply
-
ajgodinho May 31, 2011 @ 10:45 pm | delete
- I totally agree about the importance of living a life filled with gratitude. Just yesterday, my friends and me were talking about being grateful for the little things in life and we were comparing life back 2 and 3 decades ago. It made us appreciate much and be thankful. I thankful for being able to be thankful, and I want to be more thankful. And I'm thankful you made this lens as a reminder to us to be thankful...thank you! :)
-
-
Reply
-
jaye5500
May 31, 2011 @ 8:54 pm | delete
- I am grateful for every single thing that has happened in my life-good or bad because without it I do no think i would be the strong person I am today. All of these positive attributes that exists within me could never be possible without the grace of God, my family and friends! This lens was extremely beautiful and well written. These are things we must be grateful for-the Inspiration!
-
- Load More
by Comfortdoc
Comfortdoc
Kirsti A. Dyer MD, MS, FT is a respected physician, an expert in life challenges, loss, grief and bereavement, professional health educator, professor,... more »
- 419 featured lenses
- Winner of 33 trophies!
- Top lens » Make a Mad Hatter Hat
Feeling creative?
Create a Lens!
Explore related pages
- Count Your Blessings Count Your Blessings
- The Health Benefits of Altruism The Health Benefits of Altruism
- Oprah Winfrey Oprah Winfrey
- Daily Prayer and Meditation Guides Daily Prayer and Meditation Guides
- Thank You Songs: A Music Showcase Thank You Songs: A Music Showcase
- 100 MORE Things I'm Thankful For 100 MORE Things I'm Thankful For
