How to start a daily gratitude practice

It's easy to be ungrateful these days, isn't it? Ads and commercials are constantly showing us things we don't have but insist we need. Consumerism is stitched into the fabric of society, reminding us of things we lack rather than how much we already have. 

In a society that's governed by haves and have-nots, it's easy for anyone to be ungrateful. So we buy more and more, until we don't have the money to buy those other things you "need". Your mind is now filled with things that are missing. If you feel like you are in this cycle, we've all been there. Yet, there are ways to get out of this and become grateful for the things we have in our lives. Gratitude can quite literally change your life and put you on a path to success. Yes, it can be that simple. The problem is most people base their happiness and gratitude on achievements rather than using it as a platform for such. 

People don't usually find their gratitude practice until they've lost everything. It's interesting that most of the time, it takes losing things for us to realize what we had. So why wait? Start shifting your focus now and watch the quality of your life improve. Here's how it works: When you walk through life thinking about all the things you are lacking, then lack and struggle begin to come your way. But when you walk through life being grateful for the things you have, abundance begins to manifest into your reality. It's all about the energy you put into the world. If you are expecting stress, stress comes. If you are expecting abundance, abundance and opportunities arrive. 

How to put it into practice: ​

1. Start your day with a gratitude journal. Write down 3 things you are thankful for and feel gratitude. That's it.
2. Keep a gratitude rock! Find a rock that you like and keep it in your pocket. Any time you feel it or happen to pick it up, think of something you are grateful for. Feel the gratitude. 

The key in both practices is to actually feel gratitude when you do these things. If this concept seems foreign or you're unsure, that's okay. Ask yourself: How do I feel when I am grateful? Where in my body do I feel gratitude? In my stomach? Chest space? Is it a warm feeling? Bubbly feeling? Once you've found it, label it as gratitude and come back to that feeling as much as you can.

​Comment three things you are grateful for below!