How can you overcome barriers to practicing gratitude?

By addressing the injury to self esteem that is often at the core of the psychological adaptation of "want more, get more, am more". If I have enough self esteem, then I don't need "more" to feel good about being me and can feel good about what I have.

Start with doing it at the same time once a week, then twice a week and move to daily. It is important to pace it and at your own pace. Make note of how you are feeling before and after practicing gratitude. This will feed the next practice. I remember journaling what it felt like to list all the things that I have, experiencing etc. And the joy that rose for me. I would not have life any other way without my gratitude practice??

I understand that one of the greatest obstacles towards a gratitude attitude is the permanent urgency in which we live, that prevents us from being able to stop and observe everything we have to be grateful for. In a voracious world, where there is always something new happening that we should know about, we are constantly projected into the future and do not review achievements or blessings. Of course, this also applies at work and perhaps it could be put into practice in work meetings, starting with a word of gratitude or brainstorming about the positive aspects that are being experienced with the relationship to the task and the objectives. And thank you for it.

Practicing gratitude can be one of the most rewarding things you do in your life because these good vibes will enable your life to flow more and attract more opportunities. Even if you are in the darkest of times, simply focus on a sliver of light in your life...aka what is one positive thing happening to you. Focus in on that and have gratitude. In time, you will be able to identify other situations, events, people, relationships or material things to have gratitude for.

We are far more powerfully equipped than is utilized in day to day activities. External circumstances dominate our minds. The mundane drowns the creative spirit. I say all this while I myself struggle against domination by the ordinary. The extraordinary gifts of imagination and intuition are lost. Look at all you have; not what you don’t have; which awakens lack mentality; which separates us from abundance. “walking meditation.” A way to live your best life during work, play, leisure. Gratitude emerges as a result of knowing you already have everything you’ve ever wanted. It’s a practice.

One of the most fulfilling gratitude practices I’ve found is through early morning reflections. I begin by reading a page from a 360-day devotional, and writing down an associated scripture in a gratitude journal. Then I reflect on the day before and write down one thing I was grateful for that came out of the day. It could be an event, a lesson learned, a particular person, or even something as simple as a good meal. Sometimes a connection can be drawn to the daily passage, other times it may not, but either scenario offers an opportunity to center and give thanks for the life I have and the people in it. With a focus on gratitude, the month of November is the perfect time to test this method out for yourself in any variation.

A gratitude practice that has the potential to positively impact family dynamics involves setting aside a few minutes during a meal for each family member to express what they are thankful for that day. This simple ritual helps everyone -including children! focus on what they have rather than what they lack, fostering stronger connections by sharing meaningful experiences. It also establishes a valuable tradition within the family. Even when family members are physically separated, this practice can be maintained through platforms like Zoom, preserving the essence of the ritual regardless of time zones and distances.

I actually find a routine feels like yet another obligation so I try instead to express my gratitude in the moment of its occurrence rather than trying to recall them later. This actually leads me to potentially be grateful for several smaller things during the course of the day.

To be able to give thanks, we must first be able to see that small miracle or blessing that, because it is the everyday ongoing , is unnoticed and has become part of what we consider given. Not only what surprises us or is evident but what has happened without inconvenience and therefore, we have not registered it as an event to be thankful for. Reviewing each instance of the day helps us to observe how it has developed and to have a thought of gratitude. Because even what seems to be an inconvenience could have turned out to be worse than what was evaluated.

Habit trackers are very useful. I remember adopting a habit tracker and talking to my Coach about the habits I was tracking. The one 100% consistency habit ended up being... tracking my habits. It really worked with me. And I also find the buddy system incredible supportive.

Every morning I write down 3 thing I am grateful for. I try not to just focus on "good" things that have happened to me, but even "bad" things and things that are usually taken for granted. So one morning I might write about a new client I brought on, the patience I learned in dealing with my daughter, and the fact I have access to safe drinking water. Or the taste of a hot cup of tea, my wife getting a flat tire which forced me to replace a tire with a worn-out tread that I had been putting off, and utility workers that help restore power after a bad storm. We tend to focus just on the positive events in our lives, but there are a lot of other things to be grateful for as well.

Affirmations are a struggle for me because they often cause my mind to argue in response. So anything that is intended to make me feel grateful can backfire. I have found, though, that a less direct route works well. I do loving-kindness practice in my meditation regularly. This practice is sending kind wishes to people in my life. It's not about sending gratitude per se, but that is usually the result.

One of my favorite angles in trying to find gratitude where it may not be glaringly obvious is an old Tony Robbins reframe. If you ask, "What can I be grateful for?" about a particularly unsavory situation you are in, your brain will usually answer with a resounding "NOTHING!" So you then ask, "Well, pretend I had to make up something to be grateful for. What would that look like?" And what usually happens is that you don't have to dig too deep in order to find something significant. Another go-to for myself is starting with my body. I can see, I can hear, I can taste, I can smell. And even if those aren't available, my heart is beating, and my lungs are filling with air. Start with those somatic experiences.

Be thankful to your own body, and mind for it's relentless functioning and ultimately the divine force with which everything is functioning "The Love"

Gratitude is one of the highest vibrational emotions. The best some can do is move up from their less grateful emotions, one emotion at a time, rather than being inauthentically grateful. There is too much pressure on being grateful, which bypasses the real work of being present with the emotions you're having and allowing them to move through you.

I'm a big proponent of saying thank you to people but also explaining why. Meaning is one of the most important things in our lives. It's something we seek out, often without realizing it. Saying the why helps to connect with the meaning of our everyday actions.

I believe expressing gratitude finds happiness for all. It is easy to get in the rut of feeling sorry for ourselves which can keep us from moving forward. Sharing gratitude can not only lift our spirits, but that of others as well. Saying ‘thank you’ when someone does something for you is uplifting. As we express gratitude towards each other, the better we feel. The better we fell, the more we can accomplish. Spread gratitude for yourself and others.

Share your gratitude: Emphasizes the importance of not just saying thank you but also explaining why, as it adds meaning to everyday actions. Unnamed Contributor: Highlights the impact of expressing gratitude on happiness, both for oneself and others, and how it can help in moving forward and accomplishing more. These perspectives provide a well-rounded view of overcoming barriers to practicing gratitude, offering different approaches and insights to make gratitude a habit in your life.

In 2020 I decided to send out 50 thank you notes. In doing so I looked for opportunities to thank people even in the most unusual circumstances. Since sending out these notes I also received thank you notes in return and have inspired others to do so. Recently a friend turned 80 and sent me a Thank you note, suggesting I had sent her one a few years ago and she is going to send 80 notes over this year. She wanted to send me the first and the last one to demonstrate her commitment to this goal.

A few ways I like to share my gratitude— Being present. Putting down my phone and any other distraction so that I can actively listen. Engaging in random acts of kindness (and acting without reward). If you see a someone struggling with a package offer a hand. Donate unwanted clothes to charity. Bake cookies for your neighbor. Pay the toll for the car behind you. Great a stranger to coffee. Smiling. I find it hard to be thankful if I am frowning. Even if you force the smile initially you still activate the orbitofrontal cortex in the brain which then releases neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine.

I personally find it difficult that some people show gratitude generally or “to the universe”. I accept those people may find it strange that I show my gratitude to the One who created the universe and the One who provided whatever I’m being grateful for, for I believe that all of my provision comes from God. “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Sometimes when I am struggling with gratitude I take a few moments before falling asleep to replay the nicest moments of my day—things I take granted like my friend greeting me with hug or the events that seem small or ordinary —the feeling of holding a warm mug of coffee. It helps me notice the small acts of kindness that I forgot to pay attention to.

As well as being grateful for so many beautiful things, people and places in our lives I find it helpful to ask myself “name one thing I did well yesterday” at the start of each new day. What is also of great benefit is to spend quality time in nature.

In a world that encourages disconnection from our bodies it’s important to notice what’s present in our body and how we embody gratitude. By this I mean noticing how and where gratitude shows up in the body, what goes along with it in our body, what language we use for ourselves and others when we have a sense of gratitude or appreciation. Also noticing what is present in our body when we express gratitude and what’s in the space between us and another, what does it feel like in the wider space around us. We can also notice what’s present in our body when, for example, we are moving through the world with appreciation.

Some days are just more challenging than others, and it takes a lot to keep your chin up. While each of us may have our own unique way of dealing with such matters, these three steps have served me well. 1. STOP and breathe. This helps you gain a sense of calm, which allows for perspective to settle in. 2. Absolutely nothing lasts forever. We should appreciate the good when it favours us and learn from the not-so-good, when it comes to stretch and test and grow us. 3. Connect with an old friend, someone that can remind you of the challenges you have overcome in the past. Lean on people in your difficult times, allow other to help you find your way back to your path, don't stray off into the darkness by yourself - it's cold and lonely there.