How to Express Gratitude During Difficult Times

Thanksgiving is the time of year that we are often reminded to be thankful for the people and things in our lives. It’s easy to be grateful when things are going well, but when things are going tough, it can be a challenge to remember exactly how much we have to be thankful for. Let’s talk about how to express gratitude during difficult times. 

Though the holidays are a time that we should be being grateful, it is often a time that causes lots of stress and anxiety. We’re busy planning family gatherings and events, not to mention the thoughts of expenses associated with hosting these events. The chaos of planning for the holidays can leave you struggling to have an attitude of gratitude. 

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How can you express gratitude during difficult times?

Even though Thanksgiving is typically the time we associate with being grateful, we really should be expressing gratitude throughout the year. It is important to be thankful for the people and things in your life so when things are tough, you realize that life is more than just that one bad moment. 

If you take time to look around, I bet you can find an abundance of things to be grateful for. Whether it is your family, career, home, or health, there’s something important to you that you’re thankful to have in your life. If you struggle to be grateful for those things, here are some things you can do to be more grateful: 

Be intentional about finding good in all situations

There is a lot of negativity in the world.  But guess what? There is a lot of good in the world, too. No matter how bad a situation is, you’re likely to find something positive in it if you try hard enough. When you’re faced with a difficult or challenging situation, make an effort to find something positive in it. 

Here are some simple ways to be intentional every day:

• Be present in the moment. 
• Declutter your space. 
• Surround yourself with positive people. 
• Block out the noise. 
• Take time to notice the things around you. 

Keep a gratitude journal

Keeping a gratitude journal is a great way to express your thankfulness. Writing down the things in your life that you are thankful for helps you to reflect on all the good. Journaling is helpful because you can go back and read your thoughts on those especially difficult days. 

Your gratitude journal can be simple. You can simply list things in your life that make you happy. If you struggle to get started with your gratitude journal, you can use journal prompts to help you focus on ideas to write about. The key is to just start writing about the things you are grateful for. 

Celebrate small wins

Sometimes we can get so caught up looking for big wins that we forget to celebrate the small wins. Celebrating the small wins allows you to see that there are so many things to be grateful for while you’re waiting to reach those big goals. 

You’re likely to celebrate several small wins per day if you’re intentional about find little things to cheer about. 

What are some other ways to show gratitude?

Even in challenging times, there are ways to show you thankfulness:

• Donate food to a local food pantry
• Spend quality time with loved ones
• Volunteer in your community
• Try to limit complaints
• Perform random acts of kindness

Be sure to focus on what’s right in your world and be grateful for all the blessings you have. 

Best Journals for Self-Care

Journaling is one of my favorite self-care activities. It’s also a great way help you begin to move towards forgiveness. The key to making journaling a habit is to find a journal that you love. One of the first things I look for in a journal is one that is good quality, like this gratitude journal from Therabox. 

I also love this guided self love journal that is filled with prompts and practices to help improve self-esteem and self-confidence.