Want to know how to practise gratitude in difficult times?
When it comes to forming life-changing habits developing a daily gratitude practice is one of them. However, when times are difficult it easy to struggle with being able to be grateful and as a result fall out of the routine. Even when you feel as if the world is against you there are still things you can be grateful for so keep on reading to find out how to practise gratitude in difficult times.
5 WAYS TO PRACTISE GRATITUDE IN DIFFICULT TIMES
1. Listen to a guided gratitude meditation
If you are struggling to practise gratitude in difficult times an easy way to get started is by listening to a guided gratitude meditation. Rather than you having to think this is a more passive way of starting to rebuild your gratitude habit. You can find a range of guided gratitude meditations online. Find one to suit the length of time you have and press play. You might feel drawn to certain lines in the meditation. Write the lines down so you can start saying them yourself without the need of the guided meditation.
2. Read back through your gratitude notes of the past
If you are really struggling with feeling grateful at the moment you can get the ball rolling by reminding yourself of all the reasons you’ve been grateful in the past. If you have a gratitude journal or a gratitude jar, then now is a time to grab it and read through all the previous statements. If you don’t already have a gratitude jar and want to create one in the future read ‘How to create and use a gratitude jar’.
This exercise is powerful because it reminds you of all the reasons you had to be grateful in the past. It will help to remind you that even if right now you are struggling to be grateful there have been great times in your past and more great times are coming.
3. Be grateful for the lessons you are learning in these difficult times
There is a popular saying “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” and I truly believe that only can difficult times make us stronger but they offer an opportunity to really learn about yourself. Take a moment to assess how you are dealing with whatever difficulty you currently have. What can you learn from your behaviour and how can then help you improve your life going forward?
When we realise that everything gives us the opportunity to learn something new about ourselves, we can have a new appreciation for difficult times.
4. Focus on the little things you often take for granted
If you are currently dealing with a lot, then it is easy to become overwhelmed. This is why when it comes to practising gratitude you should focus on the little things. Think about all of the things we so often take for granted: food, running water, a roof over our head, people that love us etc. Go back to basics to start building your gratitude habit and then over time you can build up to bigger things.
5. Switch your focus from what you currently lack to what you currently have
When you are facing a difficult time, it is easy to focus on what you don’t have. In fact, for many people, it is always easier to see what we don’t have (hello comparisonitis) rather than what we do have. However, right now you need to focus on just your life and what you have it in. This works closely with focusing on the little things. Pay real attention to your life and think about everything you have. You’ll soon begin to realise that although you might be lacking compared to others as soon as you start to focus purely on your own life you’ll start to find numerous things to be grateful for.
There you have it. You now know how to practise gratitude in difficult times.
There is no denying to practising gratitude in difficult times can be challenging and can feel counterintuitive. However, if you can learn to be grateful in hard time then it will only get easier when you are experiencing easier times.
I would love to know in the comments below what tip you are going to try and if you have any other great tips please do share
