Why Practicing Gratitude is the Best Mental-Health Gift You Can Give Yourself

The following is adapted from my new book: Boot Straps & Bra Straps: The Formula to Go from Rock Bottom and Back into Action in Any Situation.

Whether you’re moving up in life, in a positive space right now, or even if you’re at rock bottom, everyone can benefit from good mental-health practices. 

Luckily, one of the best practices requires almost no legwork and won’t cost you a thing. All it takes is a little bit of your time and attention. I’m talking about practicing gratitude. 

As I’ll explain in this article, making gratitude a part of your daily routine is the best gift you can give your mental health because it has a positive effect on your outlook, your motivation, your relationships—practically every aspect of your life. 

Be Grateful for the Little Things in Life

When you’re starting over from your rock bottom, you don’t get days off (or your days off are full of the extra work of rebuilding your new life). But expressing gratitude, even for the smallest things, helps you see the positive changes that are happening instead of wallowing in the negative situation. 

Perhaps you can give thanks for not setting an alarm clock and getting extra sleep one day. When you wake up, say, “Thank you. I’m so grateful I gave myself that rest. That was a beautiful gift, and now I can start the day.”

Look for things to be grateful for, and you’ll find them everywhere: your bills got paid, you were able to leave work an hour early and go for a walk. You have a roof over your head, you are fortunate enough to have cherished relationships, or even that you got enough healthy food to eat that day. 

Make a decision every day, even when you’re going through a difficult situation, to find three things to be grateful for and focus on those.

How Gratitude Improves Your Life

Practicing gratitude isn’t only about being selfless and thankful for the people and things in your life; it has tangible benefits, too. 

A gratitude practice is a gift you give yourself. Focusing on these good things allows you to be happier and healthier. It keeps you calmer, lowers blood pressure, and improves your mindset. When you focus on the positive, more good things will show up (just like when you’re looking for the negative in a situation, your mind starts noticing more of it).

Happiness is a choice. Living in gratitude is a choice. You can’t change everything all at once, and it takes time to reboot, but you can enjoy those present moments and enjoy the things you can be grateful for now instead of waiting to be happy and grateful once everything is in place and perfect. 

Things could always be worse, and you’ll only benefit from noticing the good things in your life now. 

Turn Gratitude into a Habit

Gratitude has become a habit for me, and I encourage you to make it a part of your daily routine, too. Every day, I make a list of the things I’m most grateful for in life, no matter how bleak my overall situation looks. 

For example, I’m moving into a new home because I lost my old home in a fire. I had to struggle for a while to get back on my feet and be able to buy a new home. But now I live in the nicest home I’ve ever lived in. As I walk through each room, I express my gratitude for everything I have: “I’m grateful for the granite countertops where I can prepare food for my loved ones. I’m grateful for the hardwood floors where I can practice yoga. I’m grateful for the nice people in the community who welcomed me with open arms and the convenient sports center where I can take care of myself.”

If you already have a spirituality-based habit, gratitude can easily become a part of it. People have different belief systems and spiritual traditions that often come from how they were raised. Those beliefs and traditions can be very healing, centering, and grounding—especially for someone going through a rock-bottom situation. 

The Gift That Keeps Giving

Once you start practicing gratitude, don’t stop. As your life improves, gratitude will only play an increasingly important role in keeping you grounded and appreciative of your situation, which will improve your overall happiness. If you’re grateful for what you have, you’ll never feel unsatisfied because of what you lack.

Gratitude is the easiest, most impactful gift you can give yourself, and by simply saying, “I’m grateful for…” you can start benefiting from it today. 

For more advice on improving your mental health, you can find the book Boot Straps & Bra Straps: The Formula to Go from Rock Bottom and Back into Action in Any Situation on Amazon.

Sheila Mac’s innate ability to find a glimmer of light in even the darkest of situations sets her apart from other mentors. With a focus on “Life-Style Re-Boots,” Sheila’s mission is to teach women how to find that light, as well. Along with speaking, teaching online courses, and coaching individuals, Sheila has also been a property investor and real estate team leader at Keller Williams in Beverly Hills. Through her book Boot Straps & Bra Straps, Sheila shows up for all the women who have shown up over and over for the people in their lives and now need someone to show up for them.