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10 Great Ways to Show You’re Grateful Today

He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has. ~Epictetus

Have you said thank-you to someone to show how grateful you are for them today? It’s such a small thing, but it can have a huge impact on your life, and the life of that person.

Find little ways to incorporate gratitude in your life, and you’ll be much happier … and you’ll make the people around you much happier as well. That’ll have a ripple effect that will make the world a better place … with such a small gesture!

Saying thank you isn’t hard at all. But the words can lose meaning if they’re just words. You need to say them with sincerity, or show your gratitude through little actions.

Can you imagine a world where everyone showed gratitude? If someone did you a kindness, you’d give them a warm smile and say thank you. If you were having a bad day, someone else would take time out of her life to comfort you, out of gratitude for a kindness you did her yesterday. People would still get angry, or sad, but would know to find ways to be grateful, even in difficult situations.

I know, I know … I’m an idealist, and such a world will never exist. But that’s OK. I can accept the world as it is … and at the same time, show my gratitude for what a wonderful world we have. And what wonderful people (such as you guys) are in my life. And in doing so, my little acts of gratitude will radiate throughout the world, changing it in subtle but profound ways.

Corny? Perhaps. I can be corny at times. But let me tell you: incorporating gratitude in my life (even if I’m not always successful at it) has changed me and has made me happier. I recommend it heartily.

For those who’d like to do little things to show their gratitude, to a specific person or to life in general, here are a few ideas that work for me:

1. Create a Gratitude Ritual. As I described in an earlier post on this topic, on many mornings I do a little ritual: I just close my eyes, and take a couple of minutes to think of the people and things I’m grateful for. That includes those who’ve donated to this site, as well as all you readers. And of course, my loved ones, and others in my life.

2. Send a thank-you note. You know, it’s nice to get a little note thanking you for something you did. You don’t need to send someone a formal thank-you card (although that’s a nice touch), but just a little note (or email) saying thank you for a specific thing the person has done for you can go a long way. And it only takes a minute!

3. Give a free hug. OK, only do this when appropriate … but if you have a loved one in your life, give them a hug! Often we can go too long without showing our affection and gratitude, even to those who are closest to us. Don’t neglect this important part of your relationship. By “free” hug, I mean don’t expect anything in return — just give it as a gift of gratitude. If you give a hug to a stranger, be prepared to run very fast afterward.

4. Give thanks for today! You don’t even have to thank a person … you can thank life itself! Wake up, and greet the day with gratitude. Be thankful you’re alive!

I’ve printed this before, but here’s a favorite gratitude prayer of mine by the Dalai Lama, who tells us: “Everyday, think as you wake up, ‘Today I am fortunate to have woken up, I am alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it. I am going to use all my energies to develop myself, to expand my heart out to others, to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings, I am going to have kind thoughts towards others, I am not going to get angry or think badly about others, I am going to benefit others as much as I can.’ ”

5. Do someone a free favor. Without expecting anything in return, do something nice for someone. Just something small. Get them a drink or a coffee, do a chore for them, offer to do an errand, anything they’d appreciate, really. Think of what the person likes, wants or needs, and try to do something (even something small) to help them. Actions speak louder than words, and doing something nice will show you’re grateful more than just saying it.

6. Give a little gift. It doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive, but a little gift can be a tremendous gesture. Here are 30 ideas.

7. Give someone a list of all they’ve done that you’re grateful for. Take 5 minutes and make a list of 10 or 50 things you love about someone, or things they’ve done for you that you appreciate.

8. Acknowledge them publicly. Who doesn’t love public praise? Find a way to acknowledge the contributions of someone, to show your gratitude, in a public way … in your office, among friends and family, on your blog, in your local newspaper.

9. Surprise them with kindness. Actually, this is mostly the same as Item #5, but with a twist: surprise the person. That little extra step of surprising them can make a big difference. When your wife comes home from work, have a lovely dinner prepared. When your mom walks out her front door in the morning, have her car nice and clean. When your daughter opens her lunch pail, have a little note and a treat waiting for her. You get the idea.

10. Say thanks even for negative things in your life. This is the hard part, in truth. When things go wrong, when we’re not happy, when people are mean to us, when we are worn down by the million slings and arrows of everyday life … we don’t want to say thank you. But in truth, this is the time when it matters most. If you’ve mastered the first 9 items on this list, you’re ready to master this one.

When life gets you down, when your hurt or angry or confused or frustrated, take a moment to stop and close your eyes and find things to be thankful for. Your health, your family, your job, the roof over your head, the fact that you’ll have a next meal, the beauty of the world around you, the good people in your life, your new Macintosh computer. Whatever you can think of, be thankful for them … and express that gratitude somehow. Realize that all is not bad in this world, and be happy for that.

And then, when you’ve mastered that skill, think of the negative things in your life … and give thanks for them. That person who was mean to you? Thank them for teaching you patience and understanding. That dog that tore up your trash? Thank him for teaching you humility as you pick up the trash. The natural disaster you went through? Thank it for reminding you of what is important in life. The illness you are going through? Thank it for making you stronger.

This post is a part of the Season of Gratitude hosted on Balanced Life Center.

See also:

10 Great Ways to Show You’re Grateful Today

He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has. ~Epictetus

Have you said thank-you to someone to show how grateful you are for them today? It’s such a small thing, but it can have a huge impact on your life, and the life of that person.

Saying thank you isn’t hard at all. But the words can lose meaning if they’re just words. You need to say them with sincerity, or show your gratitude through little actions.

4. Give thanks for today! You don’t even have to thank a person … you can thank life itself! Wake up, and greet the day with gratitude. Be thankful you’re alive!

6. Give a little gift. It doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive, but a little gift can be a tremendous gesture. Here are 30 ideas.

This post is a part of the Season of Gratitude hosted on Balanced Life Center.

See also:

Posted on 2 November 2007 in Happiness |
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Comments (29)

Tina Su - Think Simple. Be Decisive. Says:

November 2nd, 2007, 5:16 am

I regularly practice what I called “Gratitude Sessions” where I would take 15-30 minutes out to do my weekly ritual. I would turn down all the lights, burn some candles, turn on some soft music on low volume, sit somewhere comfortable, close my eyes and give thanks for everything in my life. Every person, opportunity, every part of my body, etc. Sometimes the experience would get really emotionally intense (in a good way), and sometimes I would cry after a session… just because I really felt the love in me and that I am surrounded by it.. we all are.

I’ve felt myself becoming more creative and calm as a result of this practice. I often would follow with a “Visualization session” for how I want my future to be.. my visions and what I’d like to accomplish.

I think the last point is important… to practice being thankful for the perceived negative things that happens to us. I feel that things are only negative, because we labeled it with that. I feel that with every situation, there is at least one thing positive that can be extracted from the experience. Something we learned, maybe we are stronger because of that experience, or that we are able to help others because we experienced it.

Thanks! This was a great post, that serves as a wonderful reminder to myself to give thanks. The 10 steps are very helpful and easy to digest. :)

Love & Gratitude,
Tina
Think Simple. Be Decisive.
~ Productivity, Creativity & Happiness

I especially love the Dalai Lama quote. Such a wonderful reminder!

Abhijit Says:

November 2nd, 2007, 5:26 am

When my sister was in kindergarten, their class had a Moral Science course. One session in that course was on the value of gratitude. During the session, the teacher handed all the kids a list of stuff, and asked the kids to encircle everything that they were grateful for.

After encircling home, food, mother, father etc., they came to brother. My sister’s neighbor wondered aloud, “I can’t be grateful for a brother…I don’t have a brother!”

“Circle it”, my sister said. “You should be grateful!”

Pat Says:

November 2nd, 2007, 6:14 am

These were great suggestions. I have a journal that I call my Blessings journal and write down at least 5 things or events that I’m thankful for. It starts my day off on the right foot. I have even tried to get my students to do this at the beginning of my class. At first they grumbled about it but when I was relentless about doing this they started actually looking for the things they should be thankful for.

Jeniffer Says:

November 2nd, 2007, 6:24 am

What a great post.
I had been keeping a gratitude journal for years, and only just recently started it up again. I find it makes a huge difference in my life–just five things per day, every day, that you are grateful for. It creates a positive focus for your day, and after a very short time, you find yourself looking for those things you will write about later.

Beth Says:

November 2nd, 2007, 7:31 am

You may want to check out

http://www.gratefulness.org/index.htm

This website has many essays about and practices for cultivating gratefulness. I especially like the labyrinth and the “A Good Day” video.

Note that some parts of the site — but not all — use religious imagery. The Good Day video and the labyrinth do not use this imagery.

Mike Pedersen Golf Says:

November 2nd, 2007, 8:29 am

It feels SO good to thank someone! Doesn’t matter what they did, but to show appreciation makes the recipient feel wonderful and appreciated. I always try to thank people ‘for their time’. This is a great post!

Nneka Says:

November 2nd, 2007, 8:35 am

Number 8: Thank you :-)

Ravi Vora Says:

November 2nd, 2007, 8:42 am

Random acts of kindness not only make the receiver feel better but it makes you happier too. Karma usually comes right back around and ends up giving you ten-fold what you gave.

Chuck Says:

November 2nd, 2007, 11:30 am

Here’s a simple way to show appreciation right here in the blogosphere: comment on a post you enjoyed to let the author know.

Writing this in the comments section is kind of preaching to the choir, but authors of blogs that aren’t huge relish the positive feedback of their audience, and if you just read the article, it just takes a moment more to drop the note.

Marc Says:

November 2nd, 2007, 12:06 pm

Chuck forced ;) me to comment especially considering the theme of the post.

Nicely done! once again

I am sure there will be many positive ripples emanating from this post

Sheila Says:

November 2nd, 2007, 12:51 pm

My sister has a blog and she ends every blog post with something that’s she’s grateful for.

She’s the one who pointed me to this blog . . . and I must say that I’m grateful that she did! :)

katecontinued Says:

November 2nd, 2007, 13:09 pm

I have googled unsucessfully to cite the proper people of the world, but I will offer this anyway. There is a tribe of African people who greet each other - each and every day - with great joy and delight. The idea I’d like to convey is the ’showing’ gratitude for the people around us through our eyes, our smiles, our delight in our greetings.

This to me would be a demonstrable, gesticulated gratitude exercise or daily ritual.

Eugene (Editor, Varsity Blah) Says:

November 2nd, 2007, 13:17 pm

Great post! My approach is actually quite simple. I go out everyday and spend my time doing things that add value to my life and the lives of other people. And there are tons of those. Every time I read a book, go running, or do a favor for a friend, I like to believe I make a small difference in the world. Silly as it may sound, I believe those things add value to my life and I believe that value gets passed on to everyone around me.

That’s my key to happiness. It’s just a case of living one day at a time and making sure every day counts. It’s about doing little things that have a huge impact. A smile here and a compliment there really go a long way! In the end you realize that happiness is a choice and that you might as well be happy because 99% of the time there’s no reason not to.

adriana Says:

November 2nd, 2007, 14:50 pm

thank you fort this great post… thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you :)

Lea Woodward Says:

November 2nd, 2007, 16:38 pm

Nice tips Leo - thank you.

One thing I have personally found hard in the past, is not just the “act” of being grateful but the “feeling” of being grateful. I practise a daily ritual of reminding myself of everything I’m thankful for in my life and I truly notice a difference between the times when I “feel” the gratitude versus the times when I don’t.

Does anyone else know what I mean?

I have also found that showing your thanks to others using their language of love can be so much more gratifying (for both parties).

Raag Says:

November 2nd, 2007, 17:07 pm

It was so gratifying to read the simple ways of showing gratitude.
I am so grateful for this Blog for so many things.
I do count my blessings each time I feel anything nice happening o me.

Leo Says:

November 2nd, 2007, 17:20 pm

Hi everybody … thanks so much for your encouraging and positive comments! This is why I love doing this blog — you guys make it a joy. And thanks for those who shared their tips and stories on showing gratitude.

You guys rock! :)

Tina Says:

November 2nd, 2007, 18:32 pm

Great post. I’ll incorporate some of these ideas into my own small acts of kindness challenge on my blog. I’m hoping to do an intentional act of kindness everyday for the next seven days. Wish me luck!

dimmak Says:

November 2nd, 2007, 21:24 pm

I treat everyone as a reflection of myself. If I am don’t get a reflection I like I try to best understand what about me could have influenced such a response. There are many broken mirrors, but even the smallest of gestures that show you care can mend the most shattered of beings.

Josh Says:

November 2nd, 2007, 23:23 pm

great stuff thank you!

http://amansguidetolife.blogspot.com/

fish Says:

November 3rd, 2007, 7:46 am

Hi Loe~
The trackback came from my translation.
Thank you for the brilliant post!

Marc Says:

November 4th, 2007, 12:35 pm

Great post again, Leo! I’m trying very hard to be more grateful and less judgmental of people, both close to me and strangers. Your tips certainly will help me! :)

However one minor issue I have with the wording in the post: “I’m an idealist, and such a world will never exist”. Had you said “…, but such a world will one day exist” that would have been better in my opinion.

I think that we all should start believing that the world one day will be filled with love and peace, where all humans, regardless of religion, race, gender will treat each other with respect and show gratitude in the ways Leo lists and many more. :) If we believe otherwise, we will act out that belief and the current problems in the world will continue.

Stephen Hopson Says:

November 4th, 2007, 21:20 pm

When I saw the title of this article with the word “gratitude” in it, I knew immediately it would reasonate with me. I’m a huge fan of expressing gratitude and have written extensively on this subject over at my blog.

I particularly believe the importance of writing thank you notes not necessarily through email as the author suggests (cuz it’s too easy) but handwritten notes. How many of us actually do that these days? Not many! So when someone gets a personally handwritten note, how do you think it will make you and that person feel?

Yes, I’ve stated in my articles that handwritten notes can be time consuming and even hurt my hand (since I’m so used to typing on the keyboard these days), but think about how busy the person you’re thanking was at the time he/she helped you with something? We’re all busy.

GREAT POST. Loved it!! I am grateful to have come across great writers like you, my fellow blogger!

lovelydisturbance Says:

November 4th, 2007, 23:17 pm

today was a unique day in my life. a friend invited me to volunteer for an event in utah that featured the one and only former president of the united states, bill clinton…

it is not everyday in my life in utah that one is able to hear from such an incredible democratic leader, let alone shake the hand of a former president.

i feel incredibly grateful for the experience, and it would not have happened without the kindness of some unique, powerful and humble acquaintances who extended their hand through an invitation.

Anurag Says:

November 4th, 2007, 23:24 pm

Hi Leo,
Latest design of the blog is great. It is less cluttery. But, I wanted to point out some things which i think it will improve it littile bit more.
Once a tester, always a tester. Can’t stop myself from pointing out the defects. Please don’t mind.

1) The title bar is having very dark color. It pinches eyes and It is difficult to read text due to less cotrast in colors.

2) Also, I am not able to vote for the no. of posts per week. Loading indication is running for last 5 minutes.

Regards,
Anurag
India

Shirley Says:

November 6th, 2007, 18:20 pm

Thanks for the wonderful reminders and ideas. I do many of the ones mentioned, but there were some I hadn’t thought of. Isn’t it nice how when you thank someone you re-live the kindness they did you. When you give thanks it makes you happy to give back a little of the gift you received.

ViCtoria Says:

November 8th, 2007, 23:08 pm

Hello Leo. I just wanted to thank you for creating such a wonderful page that has been my source of inspiration (since.. July, I think?) to strive for my goals and to try to change some habits I had and be grateful to others. Reading through your posts has definitely changed the way I see the world :). I hope it will continue doing so, as I am still relatively young.

Take care, everyone!