Gratitude is a hot topic these days.

It’s been widely touted as one of the most crucial components of successful manifesting.

A big part of the difference between day-dreaming about your dream life and actually living it in reality. 

But let’s be honest, sometimes it’s hard to muster up feeling grateful.

Sometimes, you just don’t feel like writing down three things

that make you feel grateful every day, am I right? 

It’s not because you’re ungrateful, as such.

It’s just when things aren’t exactly as you wish they were,

being grateful for having food to eat and water to drink doesn’t do a lot to shift your mood.

Especially if you’ve been lucky enough so far in life

to never think there’ll be a day when you won’t have those essential things. 

Sometimes, being truly grateful is something we only really “get”

after we’ve experienced hard times or hit rock bottom,

maybe through financial loss or health issues.

The contrast of how things were compared to how things are,

is so great that we bounce right into gratitude easily. 

I think that it’s actually easier sometimes for us to be ungrateful than grateful in our society,

because so much is about getting ahead, having more things,

and constantly searching to be validated externally. 

What do you think?

Tell me your opinion on all of this, reply to me. 

So let’s look at how we can channel all the sparkly,

magical benefits that come with an attitude of gratitude. 

How do you pull out your inner Pollyanna when you’re feeling more like Scrooge? 

Number 1 – Don’t turn Gratitude into a Chore 

If filling the pages of your gratitude journal every evening fills you with dread,

it’s become a chore and you should switch up your gratitude practice. 

There’s no good that’s going to come of dutifully saying “I am grateful for the sunshine today”

when inside you’re feeling the total opposite! 

Vary what you are doing to express your gratitude.

Try journaling some days, or just making a list once a week.

Try identifying your more negative, ungrateful thoughts and take a look at them and where they come from.

Try to replace them with more gratitude. 

For example, if you’re feeling stuck at work and wishing you were on vacation,

try to change your attitude by thinking: I’m grateful for having a job and a paycheck to pay for my next vacation.

I know there are unemployed people who would love to be sitting here like I am right now. 

Find new ways to feel gratitude instead of just making a gratitude list,

maybe you’re the kind of person that prefers gratitude to be spontaneous

rather than worked at – so create that intention for yourself and see what happens.

Number Two – Fake it til you Make it 

Straight up let’s be honest, sometimes you don’t feel in the mood to count your blessings.

In those instances when you are feeling grumpy or down,

it’s a good idea to go through the motions of gratitude anyway. 

Write down a few positive things, say thank you out loud,

write a letter or a text to someone saying thank you for something they did,

no matter how long ago.

When you push yourself to find some little moment of gratitude, however small,

it does have the power to shift the momentum of your day. 

Number Three – Put yourself in Someone Else’s Shoes 

Imagine how your life seems to someone less fortunate

or even just through the eyes of someone living a different experience. 

Maybe the house you live in is their dream house,

maybe your children that you complain about sometimes,

are the kids they wished they’d had!

Sometimes, contemplating your life from this viewpoint can work wonders

to make you see the beauty of what you do have,

and shift your energy into one of gratitude. 

Final Thoughts 

Remember that you hold the power to automatically shift your energy by practicing gratitude.

You can literally magnify your positive experiences by being grateful every day,

even if some days go better than others.

It’s all a work in progress.