Life is simple if you can approach it with a grateful heart.

I’m sure you’ve heard of this before – Gratitude Changes Everything.

And Everything Changes With Gratitude.

It may be so, but sometimes, it’s not easy to find gratitude.

If we can, take a little time to care for our heart health.

Having a grateful heart leads to happiness, joy, contentment, generosity, forgiveness, compassion, peace, and much more.

Appreciation is good for the soul.

So, how can you choose to be grateful and cultivate a thankful heart?

You can start by writing cards about gratitude.

Whatever your Definition of gratitude, all of us need encouragement in life.

As we travel along life’s journey, having a good and positive attitude helps you develop a grateful heart.

11 Ways You Can Cultivate a Grateful Heart

As we journey, we can grow more profound gratitude by keeping a Gratitude Journal.

As with everything else, from determining your choice of pizza toppings to going vegan – life is about making choices.

If we could choose between bringing an umbrella when we leave our house and not, would we be grateful for the rain?

Gratitude is a Choice

There are many times in my life that I have faced challenges.

Some are small, and others are very challenging.

I am sure all of us have been through the same road.

Some people miss the potholes, others get a flat tire, and still others may have an accident.

Gratitude is a choice of how we respond to events beyond our control.

One day, I parked my car near an Indian temple.

At a specific time of the day, someone will feed the pigeon that gathers on the road.

I wanted to take some photos of the temple with the birds flying.

I thought it was good to hide behind my car so the pigeons wouldn’t notice me.

When I returned, I saw a man had cast a fishing net and caught all the pigeons.

A police car came by, and the policemen asked what the man had done.

Apparently, the birds did not belong to the temple, and it was not a law to catch pigeons, so the officers let the man off.

I walked towards my car as he rode off on his motorcycle, laden with the birds.

I noticed that there were hundreds and hundreds of scratches on the bonnet.

The scratches made the pigeons when that man put the net of birds on my car.

I was dumbfounded.

I remember telling a friend.

He said you chose to park where pigeons are.

The probability of getting bird poop on your bonnet and getting scratches on your car is a lot higher than if you parked where pigeons hang out.

Think of it this way: if it were a head-on collision, there would be more damage.

I understood what he meant then and chose to be grateful instead of grumbling bitterly.

My friend taught me to choose gratitude in the midst of the crappiest of circumstances.

That was a valuable lesson and an opportunity to be grateful and choose to see blessings instead of misfortunes.

I don’t think I am alone, but sometimes, we all tend to feel discontent more than gratitude.

There is hope, as we all have the choice to be grateful.

My friend taught me that I could get by better if we could find something to be thankful for on the worst days.

Grateful people choose the attitude of gratitude in all circumstances.

See everything we have as a gift.

Being entitled and discontent seems to be prevalent these days.

I remember watching YouTube of a little boy, Grey, and his mom.

Grey’s mom would make him something to eat every day, and his response was always a big smile and gratitude: “Thank you, Mama.”

How many of us say that when we get something?

At my first camp, we were served white rice, a hard-boiled egg, and a boiled sausage.

I was depressed as I expected the same packed food that we got for a few days.

Some others believed they, too, had a right to what they wanted.

A nice meal with three dishes.

I remember grumbling loudly and complaining bitterly until Uncle Doug asked me, “Why do you think this happened?”

I didn’t know.

He explained that there was an accident and the food we catered for didn’t arrive.

Some people helped to cook with whatever ingredients they could find in the kitchen.

There was no oil.

Hence, they could only boil the rice, sausage, and egg.

When we view something as correct, it’s tough to be grateful.

I know I must say things like, “I deserve a good lunch.”

However, when I started seeing everything as a gift, it was much easier to be thankful.

Perspective is powerful.

Many take our jobs, homes with air-conditioning, cars, and a consistent income for granted.

I used to take my home for granted until I started traveling and learned to share the house with many people, including the bathroom.

I remember one trip to an aboriginal village during a hike.

Tiny villages without running water and electricity,

Houses made out of scrap metal lined the twisting river.

Few homes had windows or a solid door.

The roof was broken, and rainwater was harvested in a plastic container to use.

Perspective is powerful.

We take so much for granted.

Being grateful helps us keep a good perspective and remember that we must be thankful daily.

We see what we look for in our journey of life

In a world full of bad news, what do you see?

How do we find good news?

Can we find any if we look hard enough?

Christian Haettich has one arm and one leg.

One summer, over 22 days, he cycled across the Dolomites, the Alps, and the Pyrenees to become one of only ten finishers of a grueling three-week amateur cycling event.

When hundreds of riders struggled to cycle up mountain passes, they looked elated but shattered.

Here was Christian Haettich, a man with one arm and one leg competing in the field of able-bodied riders.

Haettich found a way to be grateful and continued to press on.

That photo of Christian Haettich stuck in my mind always reminds me to find something to be grateful for.

There is only so much room in our hearts.

When we reflect and look for reasons to be grateful, we have less time to worry, grumble, live in fear, be bitter, and be frustrated in our everyday lives.

Grateful people actively look for opportunities to be thankful.

We practice what is important to us.

I remember the movie Forest Gump (Tom Hanks) and the scene filmed at Monument Valley.

Forest Gump was running after he started three years ago for no reason.

He crossed the country a couple of times, and on his way, he gained a group of followers.

As they run on a desert road with the Monument Valley behind them, Forrest suddenly stops running.

Rob Pope is an emergency veterinarian by night and a record-breaking ultra runner by day.

Rob became the Australian Marathon Champion in 2015 and won the Liverpool Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon in 2015 and 2016.

In 2018, Rob ran over 15,700 miles in 422 days, becoming the first to make Forrest Gump’s fictitious epic run a reality.

Rob spoke about strangers’ kindness, the benefits of accepting our energy’s natural ebb and flow, and why we need to trust that our body always wants us to improve ourselves.

Rob Pope was inspired by the movie Forrest Gump and decided to retrace Forrest’s steps.

Rob is the only man to run across the United States four times.

This Englishman ran 422 days and over 15,000 miles to earn his stripes as the real-life Forrest Gump.

He persevered through financial hardship and overcame tremendous physical pain and injuries throughout the journey.

As for the number of times a day Rob gets people to shout “Run Forrest, Run” at him during his run. Check out Rob’s adventures here.

However, his will is unbreakable, and he became the first man in history to accomplish the feat.

After all, he just felt like runnin’!

Grateful people know they can be a positive example to others around them.

We develop a life-sustaining habit when we practice cultivating gratitude daily.

Once we choose to see everything as a gift, keep a good perspective, and look for opportunities to be grateful, everything flows.

We will develop the habit.

To grow the habit of gratitude, we can be an example to others.

We can spread the hope of a grateful heart to those in our community and around us.

What are you grateful for today?

An attitude of gratitude and a grateful Heart might not change your circumstances, but it can change your perspective.

When you change your worldview, you can change everything.

Remember these 11 Powerful Ways You Can Cultivate a Grateful Heart

1. Gratitude is a Choice
2. See everything we have as a gift.
3. Perspective is powerful.
4. We see what we look for in our journey of life
5. We practice what is important to us.
6. What are you grateful for today?
7. Thankfulness is the key to your life.
8. Don’t allow yourself to complain about anything.
9. Don’t compare yourself with others.
10. Thank and praise God for everything in your life.
11. Most of us require breakthroughs in prayer.

Don’t wait until Thanksgiving to be grateful for the things that come your way.

Practice gratitude year-round simply on purpose.

Your life and others will benefit from cultivating a heart of gratitude.

Source:

Cycling over the Pyrenees with one leg

How Running Like Forrest Helped Me Learn To Listen To My Body

Thank you so much!

How do you feel when you hear those simple words?

Thank you so much for such a thoughtful gift.

If you have a birthday, wedding, baby shower, or even a going away party – you will want to thank your party guests for showering you with gifts.

A thoughtful note is a great way for you to share your gratitude.

If they have brightened your day, make the sentiment extra special by telling them sincerely, “Thank you so much!”

You can even add how excited you are to use their thoughtful gift!

How To Write A Thank You Note?

You can start your letter with one of these thank you messages. Find the relevant one and appeal to you.

Instead of just saying thank you so much, add a touch about how much you appreciate the gift and how you will use it.

1. I just wanted to write to say Thank you so much for the gift!
2. Thank you so much for the beautiful dress. I can’t wait to wear it this weekend.
3. Thank you so much for coming to my birthday party; it was more special to celebrate with you.
4. The new picture frame will look perfect in my college dorm room. Thank you so much!
5. I love it! It is what I’ve been wanting. Thank you so much for getting it for me.
6. Thank you so much for the gift card. It will help me with the extra things I need for my upcoming move.
7. The coffee mug you sent is so unique and pretty. Thank you so much for making my mornings brighter. I will remember you when I drink my morning coffee.
8. I’m so grateful for the housewarming gift you blessed us with, and our place is one step closer to feeling like our dream home because of it. Thank you so much
9. I know you spent much time picking out the perfect gift for me. Thank you so much! I feel blessed to have such a thoughtful friend in my life.

How do you express your gratitude for a kind deed?

Whether someone goes out of their way for you, be it a friend, family member, or even a stranger –

surprise them with a small gift.

Thanking them shows that their kind deed didn’t go unnoticed!

Tip: You can get a lovely, scented candle or incense as a gift. Both are inexpensive options to add to your thank you note for an extra touch.

You can customize your Thank You Notes for each situation.

10. Thank you for always stepping in to help when I needed help. You are my angel.
11. I can’t even begin to explain how much your help meant to me.
12. Thank you so much for taking the time to help me. It meant a lot.
13. Thank you for sharing your home with me. I had such a great time catching up.
14. My stomach (and I) want to Thank you so much for that delicious meal.
15. You made me feel so at home that I forgot I wasn’t! Thank you so much for having me.
16. Thank you so much for providing me with a roof over my head this weekend. It was also kind of you to invite me into your home.
17. Thank you so much for hosting my event. My day just wouldn’t have been the same without you!
18. Thank you so much for the raving letter of recommendation. I can’t wait to start my new job.
19. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You.

Tell your friends, “Thank you for being you.”

Your friends are your partners in crime and have your back no matter what.

Show how much their friendship means to you.

Let your besties know how much they mean to you.

You can customize a gift basket, especially for them.

Put their favorite drink and snacks together.

A gift card to that boutique they always rave about and use.

Luxury items like a bubble bath and an eye mask are lovely.

So are scented like aromatherapy oils and pillow sprays for a good night’s sleep.

Warm, comfy slippers or fluffy pajamas for a relaxing night at home.

Play with your favorite silly puns or recount old memories with them.

Here are some other ways, or you can drop a note to thank your friends! 

1. 20. Have a coffee with me.
   21. You are my angel. Thank you so much for your kindness and compassion.
   22. Where would I be without a friend like you?
   23. What you did for me was a big deal. Thank you so much.
   24. How did you become so wise? Thanks again for all of your advice.
   25. You’re my best friend even after you know all my secrets and weird quirks. Thank you.
   26. I don’t say it enough, but I always wanted to thank you for having my back.
   27. You are the best friend anyone could ask for!
   28. Thanks for always supporting my crazy ideas and encouraging me!
   29. Thank you for brightening my day! You are a ray of sunshine to me and everyone else around.
   30. Words can’t even express my thanks. I hope this little gift will help show you how grateful I am for a friend like you.
   31. Thank you for helping me through that difficult time. If you ever need a shoulder to cry on, I have two for you.

To say thank you to your significant other

32. Do you have a partner, a spouse, or a significant other who constantly surprises you with acts of kindness and love?

33. If you don’t know how to bake, take a little time to tell them how much you appreciate and love them by buying them their favorite dessert.

34. Add a short note with three reasons they are unique, and watch their smile light up the room.

Get inspired to tell your sweetie how much you love them with any one of these kinds of thoughts:

35. I appreciate you.
36. I’d be lost without you.
37. You make my heart smile.
38. Thank you for being my superhero!
39. How did I get so lucky? I’m so grateful you chose to be with me.
40. I have a big bear hug waiting for you the next time I see you!
41. You’re the sweetest! Thank you for everything you do!
42. You are always at the top of my list when I think about things I’m grateful for.
43. Thank you for supporting my dreams, no matter what. I couldn’t ask for a better partner.
44. When I thought I couldn’t love you more, you did that. Thank you for being so amazing!

To say thank you to your boss, colleague, or team for their support

There are a few moments when it’s appropriate to take the time to thank your bosses.

When you finish a project that you can’t have done without a co-worker’s expertise, help from your teammates or your manager’s valuable input, you must thank everyone!

You can thank your colleagues by enjoying a team dinner or buying snacks for the person who needs a mid-afternoon to pick me up or a new coffee mug for the early riser.

Here are a few other ideas for telling someone that you are grateful for their contributions:

45. Thank you for taking the time to explain to me.

46. Thanks again for meeting with me today.

47. Thank you for going all out to help me with this project.

48. I genuinely enjoy being a part of your team.

49. Thank you for your leadership.

50. Thank you for being such an inspiring leader. Your actions inspire the other team members and me.

51. Thank you for being an inspiration to the team and me.

52. Thank you for entrusting me with this project.

53. I appreciate your service and dedication.

54. Thank you for sharing your honest feedback on how to improve the project.

55. We are grateful for your commitment to the team and company.

56. Thank you for making this a fantastic office to work in daily!

57. Thank you for having confidence in my abilities.

58. I appreciate your flexibility and willingness to work on this new project with the team.

59. Thank you so much for the opportunity to work here. I will do my very best to exceed your expectations.

60. Thank you for your email reminder. I appreciate it.

61. Thanks for your attention to detail and for being meticulous.

62. I am grateful for everything you’ve helped me achieve here.

63. I appreciate you considering me for this promotion. I shall look forward to hearing from you.

64. Thank you for sharing your opinion. I value your honesty and feedback and will respond as soon as possible.

65. Thank you for stepping up and always going above and beyond to ensure we meet the project’s milestones and KPIs.

66. I appreciate your hard work and sacrifice and want you to know it doesn’t go unnoticed.

Other ways to say thank you so much on any occasion

The great thing about saying thank you is that this – you need to be sincere.

For the times when a simple, heartfelt reminder of your gratitude is needed, these will do the trick:

67. Your kind words warmed my heart.
68. I appreciate you for remembering me.
69. Thank you for thinking of me.
70. I value and respect your opinion.
71. I am so thankful for what you did.
72. It was so lovely to hear from you. Thank you for reaching out.
73. I wanted to take the time to thank you personally.
74. Thank you for your time today.
75. I appreciate your help. Thank you so much.
76. Thanks a lot for your help – I couldn’t have done it without you!

Finally, how to say thank you in the ten most common languages

All the languages in the world each have at least 200 million native speakers worldwide!

When you learn to say a simple phrase in these beautiful languages, the words “thank you” express gratitude to the native speaker.

With many words and gestures used worldwide, you can relay this message and show others your deep appreciation.

Here are ten ways to say thank you in different languages around the world:

77. Arabic: Shuh-crahn-luh-come (شكرا لكم)
78. Bengali: Hon-yuh-bahd (ধন্যবাদ)
79. Burmese: Cheh-joo-tchen-bah-ray (ကျေးဇူးတင်ပါတယ်)
80. Dutch: Dahnk-hyeh (Dank je)
81. English: Thank you
82. Filipino: Sah-lah-maht (Salamat)
83. French: Mare-see (Merci)
84. German: Dahnk-uh (Danke)
85. Hebrew: Toe-dah (תודה)
86. Hindi: Den-yee-niv-ahd (धन्यवाद)
87. Italian: Gratz-eh (Grazie)
88. Japanese: Ah-ree-gah-toe (ありがとう)
89. Korean: Gahm-sah (감사)
90. Lao: Kawp-Jai (ຂອບ​ໃຈ)
91. Malay: Ter-ee-mah kah-see (Terima kasih)
92. Mandarin Chinese: She-eh (謝謝)
93. Portuguese: Oh-bree-gah-doe (Obrigado)
94. Russian: Spy-see-bah (Спасибо)
95. Spanish: Grah-see-us (Gracias)
96. Swahili: Ah-sahn-teh (Asante)
97. Tamil: Nahn-ree (நன்றி)
98. Telugu: Dahn-ya-vah-dah-loo (ధన్యవాదాలు)
99. Thai: khop-kuhn (ขอบคุณ)
100. Turkish: Teh-sheh-coor ed-eh-duhm (Teşekkür ederim)
101. Vietnamese: Cahm-uhn-bahn (cảm ơn bạn)

If you want to make someone’s day, include a gift basket or some baked goods that you picked out just for them to enjoy.

No matter how you say it or what gift you surprise someone, they will surely appreciate your gratitude.

Most importantly, Thank your friends for being a part of your life.

Practice gratitude daily as a wise decision to start to ensure your happiness.

Science continues to affirm that being grateful and thinking positive things is good for your health and well-being.

Feelings of gratitude are perfect for business.

Before you start, you can take three steps to help you begin to feel more positive emotions.

You can learn to appreciate the good things in your life – and feel grateful for them.

1. Notice good things
2. Look for them
3. Appreciate them

Pay close attention to those good things in your life.

Savor, absorb, and express your gratitude to yourself, write it down, or thank someone.

Read on if you want to know the seven habits of the happiest people, firmly grounded in research that will help with Gratitude Practice.

Practice gratitude and express gratitude.

Several research studies have shown that a deep sense of gratitude increases happiness by up to 25 percent.

Being grateful helps reduce anxiety, stress, and depression.

The evidence indicates that genuinely appreciative people are more resilient.

They go to sleep happy -sleep tight and wake up refreshed.

To cultivate gratitude, you can speak out about what you are grateful for or write them down.

Make it a part of your morning routine, just like brushing your teeth.

Expressing Gratitude is more than being courteous, mannerly, or polite.

It’s about showing your heartfelt appreciation.

When you thank someone, you’re also practicing the first two gratitude skills: you’ve noticed something well, and you’ve genuinely appreciated it.

Try a two-minute written exercise.

Write what you are thankful for first thing in the morning.

You will beam and discover better ways to practice gratitude and express gratitude throughout the day.

Practice gratitude and choose kindness.

While most people don’t see the value of being kind and impacting business, evidence shows otherwise in the office or playground.

Research suggests that when children see other children help each other, it heightens a sense of well-being.

Express Gratitude by doing kindness.

Gratitude might inspire you to be thoughtful and to return a favor or act with kindness.

Or you might see a situation where you can “pay it forward.”

Holding the door open for the person behind you may not seem like a big thing.

You let someone in a hurry cut in front of you when you drive.

Even if it means waiting a little longer than you have helped someone else out.

Do someone a favor without letting the person find out it was you.

Notice how you feel afterward!

We feel encouraged when we see an act of kindness, which is called an “elation.”

We are more likely to behave with kindness towards others.

Kindness begets more kindness.

Overall, this improves communication, collaboration, and understanding with your family members in your daily life.

“‘Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul.” — Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887)

Practice gratitude and be generous.

In one study of over 600 Americans, “the amount of money they gave away predicted happiness. The more they invest in others, the happier they are.”

A Gratitude Jar is a fun way to create a visual reminder of all the blessings in our lives.

Science confirms that giving is good for our mental health. It evokes a deep sense of gratitude and has a positive impact on our daily lives.

Tell the people in your life how you feel about them and what they mean to you.

In the right tone at the right moment, even a simple “Glad you can make it. Thanks!” means a lot.

One Harvard Business School report even concluded that emotional rewards are the best when our generosity is connected to serving others.

Practice gratitude and forgiveness.

Forgiveness allows you to look at your mistakes as a part of life.

When you practice forgiveness, an extraordinary learning experience happens.

You learn and grow.

Research shows that forgiveness can help you let go.

You move on from upsetting situations more quickly.

If you have wronged someone, you can write a letter.

A Gratitude Letter can let you show appreciation in a meaningful way.

By doing so, you can enjoy life to the full.

Forgiveness lightens you up.

Grateful people are naturally curious.

Several studies suggest that curious people connect better.

They have an innate childlike quality in learning more about people and how things work.

When you are naturally curious, you want to learn more about the other person you just met.

Or you may reach out, introduce yourself, and make a new friend.

Grateful people have better relationships and enjoy socializing with others in their community more.

Other people feel easily attracted and socially closer to individuals who display curiosity.

Practice gratitude and exercise patience.

When we achieve more challenging goals, we experience more satisfaction and our sense of gratitude multiplies.

Other research also found that patient people are more resilient.

They experience fewer negative emotions and cope better with stressful situations.

Grateful people are less susceptible to depression.

Practice gratitude rituals.

Some people say grace before a meal.

Children learn to pray before bedtime.

Pausing in gratitude before eating doesn’t have to be religious.

It’s a simple habit that helps us notice and appreciate the blessing of food on the table.

As they feel more gratitude in their lives and connect well with others, they become happier by sharing a greater sense of abundance.

Practice gratitude by keeping a gratitude journal.

Science says you can train your brain to be happy and optimistic.

To be satisfied, you need to write in a gratitude journal or a book rather than on a piece of paper.

Start a gratitude journal.

Committing to writing down good things each day makes it more likely to notice good things as they happen.

Make it a daily practice to note the things that you are grateful for and appreciate.

Each day, think of three things you are grateful for.

1. Nature
2. People
3. Community
4. Shelter

Creature comforts like a warm bed or a good meal.

It’s amazing what you notice when you focus on feeling grateful.

Start with one in the morning.

Write another two things that happened at any time of day.

If you can’t think of anything now, how about being grateful that you are breathing?

If you are running or exercising, you may pant for breath or breathe hard.

Think of the people who are in COVID-19 wards who have difficulties breathing.

Are you grateful that breathing comes easily and naturally?

According to the research, journaling for 21 days in a row can raise one’s level of positivity.

Your brain performs significantly better when you are neutral, happy, and grateful.

In Conclusion

Genuine Gratitude doesn’t leave you feeling like you owe other people something.

It’s all about feeling good and creating a cycle of good.

Your positive outlook, a deep sense of gratitude, and a Gratitude List will help replace any negative emotions.

When you practice gratitude, you become grateful and reap the fruits of abundant life.

You will find your physical health improving.

You will sleep soundly, wake up refreshed, and have clarity of mind.

Get the motivation you need to start, grow your levels of gratitude, and lead a wonderfully blessed life today.

Source:

The Top 10 Habits of Grateful People…Even In Tough Times