Easy Ways to Start a Gratitude Ritual

This year is all about expressing gratitude. People often underestimate the healing 
power of being more grateful for what you have, and all the blessings in your life that 
you might take for granted. Starting a gratitude ritual allows you to recognize and 
appreciate the amazing things in your life each day, and provides a good reminder to 
keep up with the practice.


Write in a Gratitude Journal

An easy way to have a gratitude ritual is to write in a gratitude journal every day. Use a 
small journal that you can keep with you at all times, so that every time you feel 
appreciation or gratitude toward someone or something in your life, you can write it 
down. You can also set specific goals, such as writing down 5-10 things you are grateful 
for each day.


Start Your Day Being Grateful

If you need a reminder to practice gratitude each day, pick a specific time of day. One 
good idea is to be gracious in the morning. Express gratitude each morning when you 
wake up, whether you say it quietly to yourself, out loud, or you write in a journal in the 
morning. Be grateful for your home, your life, whatever plans you have that day, people 
you love, and anything else you can think of.


End Your Day Being Grateful

Another time of day that is perfect for expressing more gratitude is at night. Try doing 
this when you are lying in bed at night. Before going to sleep, lay quietly in the dark and 
close your eyes. Let your mind wander wherever it wants to go, then pick a few of those 
thoughts and find a way to be grateful for them. This can be gratitude for your job, your 
home, your family, something good that happened that day, or something you are 
looking forward to tomorrow.


Find One New Thing Every Day to Be Grateful For

While many days, the things you are grateful for are going to be the same, challenge 
yourself to find something new. It can be any single thing that you did not express 
gratitude for the day before. Sometimes, it will be a simple daily event like someone 
complimenting you, while other times you really need to look for something. This 
practice is great for helping you to understand how many blessings you have in your 
life, even without being conscious of them.


Start a Dinnertime Gratitude Ritual

Do you want your family to also join in with being more grateful? Dinnertime is the 
perfect opportunity! Each night before you start eating, have each person say one thing 
they are grateful for. This can become a habit that your kids grow up being appreciative 
of.



