If you’ve been reading our blogs, you would know a little bit about us. We’re both working 9-5 corporate jobs that are very hectic and stressful. Some days are relatively lighter but on most days we have back-to-back meetings and a long to-do list.
Our jobs take up most of our day and leave us feeling drained, overwhelmed, and exhausted. Every other day we complain about how we’ve become slaves of this corporate world and the toll it takes on us.
After a long and exhaustive day at work, we have very little time for what really matters to us in life, our health and our families.
That’s why we started this blog, in the hope that one day it will help us escape this cycle and live the life we’ve always dreamed of. But with our current jobs, we have little time to work on it. If we could, we would quit today.
And not just us, most of our friends are in the same boat, unhappy with their jobs. Whenever we meet, our conversations start by talking about how stressed we are at work and how mentally exhausting this lifestyle is.
It’s safe to say we don’t like our jobs and we’re only doing this to make ends meet.
The other day, we went to the shopping mall to buy some household things, and on the way back we passed by the labor chowk of our area.
We saw around 50-60 daily wage workers standing there, watching every car passing by. Their eyes filled with hope that they might get a day’s work.
For our English-speaking readers, labor chowks are certain roundabouts in the main city where hundreds of daily wagers gather every day hoping to be hired for a day’s work. From individuals to local contractors, anyone can hire them.
All of them would rush towards every car that even slows down near the roundabout in the hope that they might be hired today.
We were driving back around 3 in the afternoon and we could still see around 50 people waiting. If they hadn’t been hired by then, they likely wouldn’t get any work that day.
Even those who do get hired are paid less than $10 for the entire day’s work.
It was really really sad to see such a sight.
We stopped our car a little way off, our hearts filled with heavy feelings of sadness and a sense of gratitude towards our job.
Even though our jobs are hectic and overwhelming, at least we have jobs that allow us to live the lives we do and afford what we have.
India is the most populated country on the planet and there are millions who sleep without any food in their bellies.
Seeing all that at the labor chowk and thinking about all the people living below the poverty line completely changed our perspective towards our jobs.
It’s not that we had not seen that labor chowk before, there are some moments when the realization hits the hardest.
Although it didn’t mean we started loving our jobs, we still want to get out of the 9-5 cycle as soon as we can. But we developed a renewed sense of gratitude and appreciation that we at least have jobs.
Gratitude is a very powerful emotion that is best understood when you actually feel it. It can completely change your perspective on things.
If you incorporate gratitude into your everyday life, you’ll see life and everything around you with a different and more positive perspective. One of the best ways to practice gratitude after journaling is through affirmations.
Welcome back to our affirmations series. In part five of this series, we’re going to talk about how you can write gratitude affirmations for a happy and thankful life.
If you’ve not been following along, these are the previous blogs of this series and we invite you to read them after this one.
- What Are Affirmations and How Do They Work?
- How To Write Positive Affirmations for Personal Growth and Self-Improvement
- How To Write Powerful Affirmations for Manifesting Your Dream Life
- How to Write Mindfulness Affirmations to Live in the Present Moment
Before we dive into how you can write gratitude affirmations to be thankful and feel happier every day, let’s first understand gratitude and affirmations briefly.
Table of Contents
What Is Gratitude?
In life, there’ll always be something we don’t have, no matter how successful we become. Even with millions or billions, there are things money can’t buy. That’s just how life is.
We can either complain about the things we don’t have or be appreciative of the things we do.
Gratitude is about appreciating and being thankful for what we do have. It’s more than just saying “thank you” for nice gestures, it’s about feeling a deep sense of appreciation and thankfulness from within.
Gratitude is recognizing the good in our lives, even when we’re surrounded by challenges. It’s about focusing on what we have rather than what’s missing. This feeling and way of looking at things from this lens shift our perspective and bring more happiness and contentment into our lives.
When we practice gratitude, we acknowledge the positive aspects of our lives. It could be as simple as appreciating a beautiful sunrise, being thankful for good health, or recognizing the support of loved ones.
These small moments of appreciation add up and make us feel more connected and fulfilled.
We’ve written a few blogs on gratitude so if you want to learn more about it, we invite you to read them after this one:
- What Is Gratitude And Why Is It So Important?
- 5 Simple Ways To Practice Gratitude Everyday
- Finding Silver Linings in Challenging Situations Through Gratitude
How Does Gratitude Work?
As humans, one of our most remarkable qualities is our ability to adapt. Whether it’s facing difficult circumstances or living in challenging environments, we always find ways to adjust and eventually, what was once tough becomes normal for us.
That’s why people can live in extreme climates or rough terrains, like mountains or deserts, and it seems ordinary to them. Meanwhile, for those of us who are used to more comfortable settings, even a short visit to such places can be quite uncomfortable.
This quality extends to other aspects of our lives too. We all have dreams and goals, like buying a new gadget, a car, or a bigger house. When we finally achieve these things, we feel a rush of excitement and happiness.
But over time, that initial thrill fades, and these new possessions become just another part of our everyday life.
There’s actually a term for this phenomenon, where our level of happiness returns to a baseline despite positive or negative changes, which is known as the hedonic treadmill or hedonic adaptation.
Essentially, we all have a set point of happiness, and no matter what happens, we tend to return to this baseline after a while.
Practicing gratitude can help us slow down this process and keep the positive feelings and emotions from slipping away too quickly.
When we actively take time to appreciate the good things in our lives, we extend our enjoyment of them. Gratitude helps us focus on what we have rather than what we lack, making us less likely to take things for granted.
For example, imagine getting a promotion at work. You might feel very excited for a few weeks, but eventually, it becomes the new normal.
By practicing gratitude, we can remind ourselves regularly how fortunate we are to have this new opportunity and feel the positive emotions associated with it for a longer time.
What are Gratitude Affirmations and How Do They Work?
The other quality or inherent trait of us human beings is negativity bias. This is our natural tendency to focus more on negative thoughts, outcomes, and experiences rather than positive ones.
This trait was very useful thousands of years ago when we were hunters and gatherers. Back then, it was a survival trait that kept us alert to danger and potential threats from predators.
However, in the modern world, this negativity bias often works against us. Instead of helping us survive, it makes us dwell on the negative aspects of our lives.
For example, we might fixate on a single negative comment or event, while completely overlooking the many positive things that happened on the same day. This can create a skewed perception of our lives and make us feel more stressed and unhappy than we actually are or should be.
That’s where gratitude affirmations come into play. They are positive statements that help us develop a more positive outlook toward life and make us focus more on the good things around us.
Gratitude affirmations are very effective because they counteract our tendency to take the good things in our lives for granted.
It’s easy for us to overlook what we already have and focus on what we don’t. Gratitude affirmations help us change that by reminding us of our blessings and encouraging us to appreciate them.
The Power of Positive Affirmations for Gratitude
When you practice gratitude and appreciate everything you have in life, it sets off a positive chain reaction that can help you manifest your goals and dreams in life.
This idea aligns with the law of attraction that says that positive thoughts attract more positivity, while negative thoughts attract more negativity.
So, by practicing affirmations that are focused on being grateful, you can improve your mood and outlook and attract more positive experiences.
Even when you’re going through tough times, these positive affirmations for gratitude will help you realize how blessed you are to have all the good things in life.
They serve as a gentle reminder of all the blessings you have.
7 Benefits of Practicing Gratitude Affirmations in Your Daily Life
Practicing gratitude affirmations daily has a lot of benefits in different aspects of our lives, let’s take a look at some of the key benefits:
1. Boosts Positive Thinking
The main and biggest benefit of practicing gratitude affirmations is its ability to change the way you think and see things.
As we discussed earlier, it helps counteract the negativity bias trait of our mind and makes us focus more on the positive things happening around us.
It helps us develop a more positive and hopeful outlook towards life.
2. Improves Mental Well-Being
Constantly thinking about negative things and focusing on what you don’t have in life can lead to certain mental health issues like stress, anxiety, and even depression.
But when you practice gratitude affirmations daily, they keep reminding you of the positive and good things and counteract this negatively biased thought process which improves overall mental well-being.
3. Improves Overall Well-Being
When you practice gratitude affirmations daily, you’re more likely to take care of other dimensions of your well-being as well.
You are more likely to exercise, take a well-balanced nutritional diet, get a good quality sleep, and keep up with your medical check-ups.
This change in mindset and perspective has a domino effect that impacts all areas of your life and improves your overall well-being.
4. Boosts Self-Esteem
Gratitude affirmations can also improve your self-esteem and self-worth.
By recognizing and appreciating your achievements and qualities, you build a more positive self-image. This practice can help you feel more confident and capable, encouraging you to pursue your goals with greater determination.
5. Strengthens Relationships
Practicing gratitude affirmations helps you empathize with others and cultivates a sense of deeper connections and mutual respect. This makes your relationships stronger and more fulfilling.
6. Increases Happiness and Satisfaction
The other benefit of gratitude affirmations is that practicing it regularly gives a greater sense of happiness and life satisfaction. When you focus on the good in your life, you get a sense of contentment and joy.
This positive outlook makes every day more happy and meaningful.
7. Gives a Greater Sense of Purpose
When you regularly practice gratitude affirmations and reflect on the things you are thankful for, you become clearer about the things that truly matter to you.
This sense of clarity guides all your decisions and actions towards achieving your goals and manifesting your dream life.
5 Steps to Write Gratitude Affirmations to Feel Happier Every Day
Let’s now take a look at a step-by-step approach you can follow to write gratitude affirmations so you can bring more positivity and happiness into your life.
These five simple steps will help you write your own unique affirmations.
1. Make Them About You
Your gratitude affirmations should be personal and specific to you. Focus on what you are grateful for in your own life rather than writing affirmations for someone else.
Affirmations are impactful only if they are written for yourself. They should resonate with your thoughts and emotions.
2. Start with “I” or “I Am”
Start your affirmations with “I” or “I am” to make them more powerful and direct. For example, say “I am grateful for my supportive family” instead of “My family is supportive.” This makes the affirmation more personal and impactful.
Starting with “I” or “I am” helps you take ownership of the statement and creates a positive image of yourself. It turns a general statement into a personal declaration, which can boost your confidence and self-worth.
This way of writing your affirmations makes them feel more real and tangible which enhances their impact on your daily mindset.
3. Be Specific and Detailed
When writing your affirmations, be specific about what you are grateful for. The more detailed you are, the more meaningful your affirmations will be. Being specific will help you visualize and feel gratitude more vividly.
It will also remind you of the unique and valuable aspects of your life that you might otherwise overlook. You will focus on the exact experiences and feelings that will make the gratitude more genuine, honest, and impactful.
This level of detail will deepen your appreciation for the positive aspects of your life.
4. Incorporate Them into Your Daily Routine
The next step in the process is to incorporate your affirmations into your daily routine. One of the best ways to do this is through journaling.
If you’re not familiar with journaling, chances of which are very slim, it is one of the most powerful practices to improve your overall well-being, become a better version of yourself, and manifest your dream life.
We’ve written a few blogs on journaling, if you’re interested, we invite you to read them after this one.
- What Is Journaling and What Are Its Benefits?
- What Are The Different Types of Journaling
- 5 Simple Steps to Start Journaling for Mental Health
- How and Why You Should Start a Gratitude Journal
- How to Journal for Personal Growth and Self-improvement
- What Is a Manifestation Journal and How to Journal for Manifestation
- How to Start a Health and Wellness Journal
- How Can Journaling Boost Your Productivity
- How to Journal for Overthinking
Set aside a few minutes every day to write your affirmations. This could be in the morning to set a positive tone for the day or at night to reflect on the good things that happened.
You can only reap the benefits of any habit if you’re consistent with it, and daily journaling will help you be consistent with practicing gratitude affirmations.
It will help you solidify this habit by giving you dedicated time and space to practice gratitude.
If you already have a journal, you can dedicate a section on your daily page specifically for writing gratitude affirmations.
If you’re just starting out, we invite you to check out our Mindful Living Digital Journal. This is a fully hyperlinked daily planner and tracker that we’ve carefully designed to incorporate all the concepts discussed in our journaling series.
Our journal includes sections for gratitude, affirmations, self-care, goal tracking, daily planning, mindfulness, health and well-being tracking, and much more to make sure you have everything you need in one place.
With our digital journal, you won’t need any other planner because it covers all aspects of mindful living and personal growth.
Whichever journal you choose to go with, the important thing is to develop a daily habit of practicing affirmations.
5. Focus on the Positive
Make sure your affirmations are always positive. Instead of saying “I am not stressed,” say “I am calm and relaxed.” Positive language helps reinforce a positive mindset.
You should focus on what you want to feel rather than what you want to avoid so you can attract more positivity in your life.
30 Daily Gratitude Affirmations for a Life of Appreciation
Let’s now look at some positive gratitude affirmations. These affirmations will give you a starting point, but remember, your affirmations should be unique and tailored to your own experiences.
Feel free to modify them to reflect your personal journey and what you are most grateful for.
Personal Growth Gratitude Affirmations
- I am thankful for my continuous learning and self-improvement.
- I appreciate the challenges that help me grow stronger.
- I am grateful for the progress I make each day.
- I value the insights I gain from my experiences.
- I am thankful for the person I am becoming through my efforts and perseverance.
Relationships Gratitude Affirmations
- I cherish the love and support I receive from my family and friends.
- I appreciate the kindness and thoughtfulness of those around me.
- I am grateful for the deep connections I have with others.
- I value the compassion and understanding shown to me by loved ones.
- I am grateful for the happiness and laughter that my relationships bring me.
Health and Well-being Gratitude Affirmations
- I am thankful for my body’s strength and vitality.
- I appreciate my ability to take care of my health.
- I am grateful for the energy I have to enjoy life.
- I value the moments of relaxation and peace I experience.
- I am thankful for my mind’s clarity and calmness.
Career and Success Gratitude Affirmations
- I am thankful for the work that brings me fulfillment and growth.
- I appreciate the skills and talents that lead to my success.
- I am grateful for the opportunity to work with inspiring colleagues.
- I value the recognition I receive for my dedication and hard work.
- I am thankful for the progress and achievements in my professional life.
Abundance and Prosperity Gratitude Affirmations
- I am thankful for the financial security that supports my lifestyle.
- I appreciate the abundance that allows me to live comfortably.
- I am grateful for the opportunities to create wealth and success.
- I value the ability to share my prosperity with others.
- I am thankful for the continuous flow of resources in my life.
Everyday Moments Gratitude Affirmations
- I am thankful for the beauty of nature I see each day.
- I am grateful for the everyday moments that bring me happiness.
- I am grateful for the moments of connection with others.
- I value the peace and quiet that allows me to recharge.
- I am thankful for the small achievements and victories I experience every day.
Wrapping Up – Gratitude Affirmations to Feel Calm, Happy, and Centered
Life is full of ups and downs, there will always be good and bad days, good and bad experiences. Nothing lasts forever and the bad moments don’t define who you are.
If you keep focusing on the negative aspects of your life, you’ll miss out on all the good things that surround you.
If you take a moment to think about it, you’ll realize there’s so much positivity around you that you may have taken for granted because of the hedonic adaptation we discussed earlier.
Just focusing and thinking about the negatives and ignoring the positives can have a serious impact on your well-being and quality of life.
Be mindful of what you think and worry about, and rewire your brain to focus and notice the positive aspects of your life.
As we discussed, one of the best ways to do this is by practicing gratitude affirmations. If you truly want to reap the benefits of this practice, make sure to do it consistently every day.
If you’ve already been practicing gratitude affirmations, we’d love to hear from you. Please share your experiences so that we and the wider community can learn and grow together. Namaste!
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