How To Feel Grateful (Even When Nothing Feels Right)

Rising author of This is How it Feels to Be Seen, Sophie Beatrice, provides us with tips on how to practice gratitude, even when life feels empty.

Make gratitude a daily practice. Begin and end each day with intention. Start by thinking about all you appreciate and end by considering everything you’re grateful for.

Let gratitude extend to the smallest moments throughout the day. Be mindful and bring conscious attention to the elements that make you glad. Don’t fill your mind with all the ways in which life isn’t exactly what you wish it were, or this mindset will become your default.

Challenge yourself to be grateful, even in hard moments and uncertain circumstances. Think grateful thoughts. It’s not complicated, but cultivating gratitude does require effort and commitment.

Make time for quiet reflection. Embrace moments of solitude. Slow down and savor the moment you are in. Let the focus on your breath ground you. Affirm the good things you’ve been given.

Think about what you take for granted and shift your perspective. Look for the good in every bad moment. Seek the opportunity in every situation. View setbacks as valuable lessons. Focus on experiences along the way instead of results, and see the beauty in imperfection.

Compare less and stay humble. And when you feel grateful, say it. Go through the motions. Smile. Hug. Take time to thank someone. Write notes of appreciation. Share your gratitude, talk about it to others, or express it through giving back.

Vary the practice but do not over-practice. Be grateful and be genuine — in the here and now. Gratitude in the present moment will prime you to be more grateful going forward.